Water Rail

 Water Rail (male), Kings Dyke NR, 1st November 2024 © George Walthew

' I've been using one of the cheaper thermal imagers for the last couple of years for locate and count Jack Snipe and Long-eared Owls at KD, a real God send as you get much more accurate counts without disturbing the birds. How do I know it's a male Water Rail? You get to know the individuals on their territories after a while. The residents stay on their territories year round unless flooding or bad weather drives them out and the females stay with the males as well so they share the territory.' GW