I've Spotted a Crake

Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB - 13.9.18

I've been reading with interest on the Dee estuary bird sighting page over the last couple of days a Spotted Crake has regularly been seen from the reserve reception centre at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB. Located on Dee Side-Cheshire boarder it a relatively easy drive and with an forecast of some good light I've planned a trip to see if I can get some images of this scarce normally very skulking bird.

Checking the status of the Spotted Crake on the BTO site before I set off I'm surprised to read that the UK breeding population is estimated at only around 73 breeding pairs, so a very lucky encounter if you ever get the chance.

I've included some information and data links for the UK and Europe on the status of this aquatic bird below..

European breeding population data:
http://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/BirdsInEuropeII/BiE2004Sp2903.pdf

British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) UK status:
https://app.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob4080.htm

The first time for me at this venue although I do remember seeing a Wilson Phalarope at Burton on a flooded area many years ago....any way. The reception area is full of people of a generation enjoying the delights of not having to work and are already viewing the crake at the top right hand side of the small lake, still a little too far for a detailed image and not wanting to shoot through the glass I position myself outside on the walkway next to the building and wait for the crake to come closer !!

The crake has attracted quite a gallery, even Iolo Williams is here but I think he's more intent with enjoying the reserve with a colleague rather than "twitching" The Spotted Crake is showing off and on for most of the day usually just along the reed edge, on occasions it would briefly venture in to the open only to run back into cover.

The crake has now moved to the small mud area on the left hand side of the lake, I quickly change location and I'm now directly opposite and the closest that I'm likely to get...I get the shots.

On the day the chances of getting near the crake were pretty remote hence all the images have been cropped to some extent reducing the image quality, but I happy with a record of the encounter.

Pleased to say the first image below was used by the RSPB on their weekly Dee Estuary Reserve "Round Up Blog" page.......

http://ww2.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/deeestuary/b/deeestuary-blog/archive/2018/09/17/reserve-round-up-week-commencing-10-september.aspx

Spotted Crake