WaterRailCam

This blog has been taken over by mustelids recently so it is time for something different, although these pictures were recorded on cameras looking for otters.  The water rail (Rallus aquaticus) has a reputation for being a shy bird but it isn't shy when it thinks no-one is looking.  It is the most frequent non-target bird on this camera, appearing several times a day.

Most often the water rail just runs across the bridge but quite frequently it also does a dance on tip-toe with much flapping of its wings.  I don't know if this is a display or just for exercise, probably the former.  Here are a few examples.

Wikipedia says water rails mostly eat animals such as worms, slugs, leeches, spiders and insects.  They will also take small vertebrates such as amphibians and fish.  The cameras have twice recently seen a water rail carrying prey - first a fish and then a newt in the video, an observation that would be near impossible without the trail camera.

Because of their secretive behaviour water rails are very difficult birds to census.  My cameras suggest that locally at least they are doing very well.