Water Rail
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Rallus aquaticus
Scarce residents with 1,100 pairs breeding in Britain & fairly common Winter Visitor of 10,000+.
Adults are are olive-brown with black streaks, especially on the shoulders.
The flanks are barred black and white, and the undertail is white with some darker streaks.
The long bill and the iris are red, and the legs are flesh-brown.
Juveniles have a blackish crown and a white chin and throat & duller bill.
The main call is "sharming", throughout the year.
This is a series of grunts followed by a high-pitched piglet-like squeal and ending in more grunts.