Crakes

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Crakes are small- to medium-sized almost chicken-like water birds that favour wet margins in amongst thick vegetation. Water rail is a small bird with a brown upper body and grey underparts and a sharp red bill. It is more often heard than seen, its squeals and grunts often being likened to a pig. It is a shy bird and if seen it is usually skulking along the vegetation edge on a lake or a pond.

Moorhen is a common bird, recognisable by its red and yellow bill and black body with broad white flashes in its tail. It frequents ponds, streams, rivers and lakes. Coot is another well known bird on lakes and rivers, diving to catch fish, easily recognised by its black body with white bill and forehead.