Water rail

This is the third mud-loving bird I have posted this week.  The increased area of mud in front of the hide at Gosforth Park is popular with birds that we don't often see.  Water rails are generally fairly secretive birds but these are happy to come out onto the mud each evening.  This is an adult.

There are also several juveniles.

If and when we have some rain they will eventually move back into the reed beds as the water level rises.