Water Rail

Above: Water Rail at Pennington Flash
Below: Water Rail at Potteric Carr

The water rail is found throughout most of Britain, except for the North and West of Scotland. However, it is very elusive and seldom seen as it skulks largely amongst reeds and other dense vegetation.

If you are lucky enough to see one, how can you avoid misidentification? Well that's the easy part. Although there are other rails and crakes that have barred flanks (all much rarer), the water rail is quite different from all others in that it is the only one that has a long red bill and a plain grey breast.

So where can you go to get a good photo of these birds if they are so elusive? Well almost all sites with reed beds probably have water rails, all year round in most of England, Wales and Southern Scotland. Your best chance of seeing them is on cold winter days when ponds and lakes freeze over and the birds are forced out into the open to find food. You'll be glad to know, however, that there is an even easier way. Many water rails are learning to make use of feeding stations, especially in the winter. The feeding station at Pennington Flash, Leigh, Greater Manchester, overlooked by Bunting Hide, is visited by water rails in winter but no so often as they once did. When they do, however, they offer really good close views and good photo opportunities.

Potteric Carr (Near Doncaster, South Yorkshire) also has a feeding station regularly visited by water rails that also allows good photo opportunities. I know Doncaster isn't really the North West, but it's not too far away. Failing that, if you have a pass and a key, you can visit Woolston Eyes, No.3 Bed, Near Warrington. Water rails also visit the feeding station here but they might be a little too far away for really good pictures.