Spotted Crake; Polluela Pintoja

Description:

I had decided to visit the marshes during midweek when there is less disturbance and hoped to get better photographs of the Spotted Crake seen at the week-end if it was still around. I saw it as soon as I got to its favoured feedong area and started photographing it. It was still shy and kept disappearing into the reeds but each time I crept a bit closer and waited (pictures 1-4). Finally after many photographs I reached the edge or the area where it had been feeding and sat and waited. Eventually it came out from the reeds and started feeding and came very close (picture 5) and I got plenty more pictures.On leaving the area later I looked again as I walked past the same spot. It saw me but carried on feeding so I took one final photograph, (picture 6). A very worthwhile 20+ minutes.

Habitat:

Coastal marshes.

Notes:

This is a summer visitor to some parts of Western Europe but only a passage migrant normally at this location.
All the pictures can be seen here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=...