A recent interesting sighting at the Ladysmith Sewage Works (Malandeni) was an African Rail bird, which was stunningly photographed by local man Dave Marshall.
The African rail nests in a dry location in marsh vegetation, both sexes building the cup nest.
The typical clutch is two to six heavily-spotted, creamy-white eggs which are incubated by both sexes for about 20 days to hatching. Immature birds are similar to the adults, but the blue-grey is replaced by buff.
The downy chicks are black, as with all Rails.
Its breeding habitat is marshes and reed beds across eastern and southern Africa from Ethiopia to South Africa.
Many birds are permanent residents, but some undertake seasonal movements in response to the availability of wetland.
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. 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.
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