Moorhen

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I saw lots of moorhen when I was away last week, and we do often get them around here so they seemed a good topic for today.


Moorhen are closely related to coot and are found on and around water. Moorhen are omnivorous and eat just about anything they can find from plants to insect to frogs or small fish.  Probably because they are generalists they are one of the most common birds in the whole world. Moorhen are abundant in most of the UK apart from high mountains in Scotland Wales and the North of England. Moorhens are not ducks but are in a group called Rails. Note they don't have webbed feet and can climb trees!
I took this photo on my trip last week.

Diary
I can't believe its May and we woke up to find snow on the hills this morning. Some commentators are saying that this is the coldest start to May since records began!
Siskin on the bird feeder yesterday with a lot of visits from great spotted woodpecker. A male kestrel being chased away by rooks.
Overnight cameras showed a badger and herons.

 

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