Common Moor Hen

Just thought I'd share one of my favourite aquatic birds. They are quite common here but rather shy, they tend to get bullied by the coot. Do you have them on your side of the pond?

Mette

Nice shot. I've never seen one.

Thanks! I just checked Wikipedia and there should be some of you guys that know this one?

Mette

They are a southern US coastal species usually, but I have seen them in NJ.

Very unique angle.

Unique angle all right! :thumbsup:

I have never seen a moorhen (doesn't make it to B.C.) but there were plenty of coots around last time I visited the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary.

Yes, all over the lake in a park near us.
They get pushed off food by the coots, who themselves are very territorial.
They also tend to be a little shyer than most of the waterfowl.

Neat looking bird, and definitely not something we see here in Alberta.

I've investigated a little further, and it appears that in Canada, it is only found in the South-East.

Alex, I tried to get as low down as possible but any further and I would have been in the lake :D Okay, I confess, I didn't actually lie down flat on my belly :p

Mette