African Rail (Rallus caerulescens)
Now this is not a bird I see everyday, in fact this is the first time I’ve been able to take a photo of one. So I count myself lucky this time…
Its breeding habitat is marshes and reed beds across eastern and southern Africa from Ethiopia to South Africa. The African Rail nests in a dry location in marsh vegetation, both sexes building the cup nest. African Rails are secretive in the breeding season, but are easier to see than many other rail species, especially in the morning. They are noisy birds, with a trilled whistled treee-tee-tee-tee-tee call.
These birds probe with their bill in mud or shallow water, also picking up food by sight. They mainly eat insects, crabs and other small aquatic animals.
The Photographic Journey of bulldog. 
Beautiful and I’m glad you found him.
Thank you
Lovely little one.
He looks like a jolly fellow – don’t look at me, I’m shy!
Using their bill for probing does sound fascinating. Another gem of a discovery.
Thank you…
Lovely photo’s, Bulldog. I have never seen one of these, nor heard of one! Interesting!
Thank you.. seen them before but never managed to get a photo…
What a beautiful bird and I like it’s diet (apart from the insects!) I could easily live on cabs and aquatic animals! 😀
Glad these birds have the diet they do… I am a meat man
Neat looking bird, don’t get to see anything like this here is San Diego unless I am at the Zoo of course
Have a great day
Kymee
Thanks Kymee lovely to see in the wild…
Ingrid is right, your country has some of the most unique animals…you, being the most unique by far! 🙂
Thank you for that complement… as long as they don’t put me in a Zoo…lol
😀
What a gorgeous bird bulldog and I for one is also glad you were able to capture these beautiful photo’s. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day! *hugs*
Thanks Sonel.. I was actually looking at someone else’s photos taken in your neck of the woods… looks like I’m going to have to take a walk around your area sometime…
You’re welcome bulldog and that would be nice. Is it someone that blogs here at WP as well or is the photo’s somewhere else?
No unfortunately this guy doesn’t put his photos on the internet… yet he is so damn good… but he believes he’s not…
Oh, that is a shame indeed. 🙂
Hi Rob,
And just the other day we were talking about the R.E.P.S. Bible (Roberts Birds of Southern Africa) The source of your info no doubt, so many great memories of all the hours, spent pouring through that book, in an effort to identify some new sighting. Keep it up
Yes Tim how I remember those days when someone mentions them… how lucky were we to have received such an education, (maybe not realising it at the time) .. the Roberts I seldom use now as I can’t afford a new copy and my copy is so old, bent, falling apart, dirtied by condense milk (purchased at the small shop past the Matopos Hotel) .. but that education still comes back in floods and bounds when I really need it and the ability to find easily the birds in the newer cheaper books available today.. apart from the years of following and photographing birds now.. a great hobby that probably stems from R.E.P.S. days… damn we’re getting old my friend, do you realise how many years ago that was.??
Great photo, the detail is amazing. It is so hard to capture birds like this.
Thanks Charlie.. not the easiest photography, bird photography, but then one can be so lucky…
Beautiful birds. That red bill is very distinctive.I’m amazed at how you get these photos.
Thanks Anneli… I suppose I’m at the right place at the right time… or just darn lucky sometimes… you would be amazed at how many times I go out returning without making a single capture… but then that’s part of the fun…
very informative. Thank you for sharing
My pleasure and thank you…
Another feathered beauty …. love the brown and grey … and then the red beak. Great shots again,Bob.
Thanks Viveka…
Your country has some of the most unique animals…..I was talking about the birds, not you 😉
Thanks Ingrid… but then I feel I’m just one of the unique animals, well my wife thinks so anyway…
It always amazes me how you find these really cool creatures and then tell us what you know about them. I feel so educated. Great shots!
Thank you Gina… they find me and tell me all about themselves.. lol
That’s cuz you’re one of the good guys 🙂
Love the “action” shot at the top – left lifted. Great pic. Looks a little like a blue duck.
A strange bird that is not sure where it fits in… but thanks for the look in…
Hey good to see you again! Love the photos and commentary as per usual. 🙂
Thank you.. back for a short time and off again this weekend.. got to keep the ball rolling… but thank you..