On this day - Little Crake

The expansive reed beds at Minsmere. One hide. One gap in the reeds and one tiny crake.

Real needle in a haystack stuff. Luckily it had a routine and would repeatedly feed along the same edge, seemingly on a circuit. So with patience you would eventually get a view... 

I remember not seeing it in the morning, not least because I didn’t want to be jammed into Bittern Hide with literally tens of other people. I genuinely feared for the structural integrity of the hide - given the amount of camera gear, camo and birders perched up there. After lunch it had thinned out a bit and I have it a second try. Bingo!

Little Crake - Minsmere - October 

The Little Crake shuffled into view, feeding on its favoured pool, framed by reeds. Still the only Little Crake I’ve seen and still awesome...