Bence Mate / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) reflected in water, Lake Csaj, Kiskunsagi National Park, Pusztaszer, Hungary.

Andy Rouse / Water Rail {Rallus aquaticus} in water, Wales, UK

Andy Rouse / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) on frosty ground beside water, Wales, UK

Andy Rouse / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) on frosty ground beside water, Wales, UK

Roger Powell / Western Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) feeding on the frozen pondside edge, Low Hauxley Nature Reserve, Druridge, Northumberland, England, UK, January.

Mike Read / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) at the edge of a water channel, Radipole Lake RSPB Reserve, Weymouth, Dorset, England, UK, March

David Tipling / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) male, North Norfolk, England, UK, February.

Nick Upton / Water rail (Gallus aquatica) preening, Gloucestershire, England, UK, November.

Nick Upton / Water rail (Gallus aquatica) preening, Gloucestershire, England, UK, November.

Nick Upton / Water rail (Gallus aquatica) foraging in a shallow pond at the margins of a reed bed, Gloucestershire, England, UK, November.

Nick Upton / Water rail (Gallus aquatica) foraging close to the margins of a reed bed, Gloucestershire, England, UK, November.

Colin Varndell / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) feeding on dead Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), it had just killed. Dorset, UK, March.

Nick Upton / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) walking on frozen, snow covered lake surface in falling snow, Wiltshire, UK, March.

Nick Upton / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) walking across a frozen, snow dusted pond, Gloucestershire, UK, February.

Nick Upton / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) foraging in marshland, Gloucestershire, UK, November

Dave Bevan / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) foraging at waters edge, Carmarthenshire, Wales, UK, November.

Mathias Schaef/ BIA / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus), Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Andy Sands / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) feeding in watercress bed with water drop on end of beak, Hertfordshire, England, UK, January

Jussi Murtosaari / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus), adult, Finland, February.

Markus Varesvuo / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) taking off, Utö, Finland, August.

Colin Varndell / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) with dead Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) the rail had just killed and partly eaten, Dorset, UK March

Colin Varndell / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) preening, Dorset, UK March

Andy Sands / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) wading through shallow water in watercress bed, Hertfordshire, England, UK, January

Andy Sands / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) standing in shallow water in watercress bed, Hertfordshire, England, UK, January

Colin Varndell / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) in winter. Dorset, UK, February.

Colin Varndell / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) bird in breeding plumage, Dorset, UK, April.

Colin Varndell / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) adult, Dorset, UK, February.

Roger Powell / Western water rail (Rallus aquaticus aquaticus) at waters edge. Cresswell, Druridge Bay, Northumberland, England, UK. January.

Roger Powell / Western water rail (Rallus aquaticus aquaticus) at waters edge. Cresswell, Druridge Bay, Northumberland, England, UK. January.

Markus Varesvuo / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) on rock, Uto, Parainen, Finland August.

Markus Varesvuo / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) on mud, Uto, Parainen, Finland August.

Markus Varesvuo / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) juvenile, Uto, Parainen, Finland, July.

Markus Varesvuo / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) juvenile, Uto, Parainen, Finland, July.

Markus Varesvuo / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) juvenile, Uto, Parainen, Finland, July.

Markus Varesvuo / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) wading, Uto, Parainen, Finland August.

Markus Varesvuo / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus), Uto, Parainen, Finland August.

Markus Varesvuo / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus), Uto, Parainen, Finland August.

Markus Varesvuo / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) wading, Uto, Parainen, Finland August.

Markus Varesvuo / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) on rock, Uto, Parainen, Finland August.

Markus Varesvuo / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) spreading wings, Uto, Parainen, Finland August.

Markus Varesvuo / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) spreading wings, Uto, Parainen, Finland August.

Markus Varesvuo / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) carefully walking in water, Uto, Finland, August

Oliver Richter / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) feeding on mussel, Saxony, Germany

Robin Chittenden / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) walking on ice, Strumpshaw Fen RSPB Reserve,Norfolk, England, UK, November

Robin Chittenden / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) in snow, Strumpshaw Fen RSPB Reserve, Norfolk, England, UK, November

Markus Varesvuo / Juvenile Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) foraging at waters edge, Uto, Finland, July.

Oliver Richter / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) in water, Germany

Jussi Murtosaari / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) foraging, Kanta-Hame, southern Finland, January.

Jussi Murtosaari / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) walking in shallow water, Kanta-Hame, southern Finland, January.

Walter Soestbergen / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) walking over snow, Utrecht, Netherlands

Richard Steel / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus), Leasowe, Wirral Peninsula, United Kingdom

Oliver Richter / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus), Saxony, Germany

Patrick Donini / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus), Aargau, Switzerland

Laurent Geslin / Water rail skull {Rallus aquaticus}

Jussi Murtosaari / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) walking in shallow water, Finland, January

Bence Mate / Water rail {Rallus aquaticus} catching fish, Pusztaszer, Hungary

Alan Williams / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) standing in pond, Merseyside, UK, November.

Alan Williams / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) on water, Merseyside, UK, November.

Alan Williams / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) swimming in pond, Merseyside, UK, November.

Alan Williams / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) walking on moss covered log in pond Merseyside, UK, November.

Alan Williams / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) walking on ice on frozen pond in early morning sunlight, Merseyside, UK, February.

Alan Williams / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) walking on ice on frozen pond in early morning sunlight, Merseyside, UK, February.

Alan Williams / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) walking on ice on frozen pond in early morning sunlight, Merseyside, UK, February.

Alan Williams / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) foraging at edge of pond in early morning light, Merseyside, UK, November.

Alan Williams / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) standing at edge of pond, Merseyside, UK, November.

Alan Williams / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) foraging in pond, Merseyside, UK, November.

Ernie Janes / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) feeding in reed bed Norfolk, UK winter

Fabrice Cahez / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) foraging in shallow water. Vosges, France, August.

Markus Varesvuo / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) foraging at a hole in ice. Finland, January. Magic Moments book plate, page 140.

Markus Varesvuo / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) foraging through a hole in ice. Finland, January. Magic Moments book plate, page 141.

Nick Upton / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) walking on frozen water surface at edge of reed bed. Chew Valley lake, Somerset, UK, January

Colin Varndell / Adult Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) in winter, on frosty morning. Dorset, UK, December.

Paul Hobson / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) wnter, walking on snow covered reedbed, Yorkshire, England, UK. February.

Paul Hobson / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) walking on snow covered reedbed, Yorkshire, England, UK. February.

Peter Lewis / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) on water, Titchfield Haven, Hampshire, England

Konrad Wothe / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) in winter, Bavaria, Germany

Konrad Wothe / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) in winter, Bavaria, Germany

Dave Bevan / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) in shallow water, Wales, UK

Michel Poinsignon / Water rail {Rallus aquaticus} Lorraine, France, winter

Andy Rouse / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) wading through water in pool, Wales, UK

Andy Rouse / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) on frosty ground beside water, Wales, UK

Andy Rouse / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) wading through water in pool, Wales, UK

Andy Rouse / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) reflected in water in pool, Wales, UK

Andy Rouse / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) at pool, Wales, UK, January

Peter Lewis / Water Rail {Rallus aquaticus} Titchfield Haven, Hampshire, UK

Peter Lewis / Water Rail {Rallus aquaticus} calling, Titchfield Haven, Hampshire, UK

Peter Lewis / Water rail {Rallus aquaticus} Titchfield Haven, Hampshire, UK

Peter Lewis / Water rail {Rallus aquaticus} Titchfield Haven, Hampshire, UK

Peter Lewis / Water Rail {Rallus aquaticus} amongst reeds, Titchfield Haven, Hampshire, UK

Dave Bevan / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) wading through water, Wales, UK, December

Gary K. Smith / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) walking through cut reedbed, Norfolk, England, UK, December

Andy Sands / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) Portrait, Hertfordshire, UK, February

Andy Sands / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) Portrait, Hertfordshire, UK, February

Rolf Nussbaumer / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) amongst reeds, Samos, Greece. May 2000

David Kjaer / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) on frozen water, Buckinghamshire UK

David Kjaer / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) on frozen water, Buckinghamshire UK