The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Flushed a rail/crake today from a small area of marsh. It got up, at about two metres range , flew about six metres into some marhsy vegetation and dissappeared immedaitely. I was carrying some equipment at the time so only had views with the naked eye but what was very apparent was the whitish leading edgs to the wing between the shoulder and the carpal particularly as it landed. I have never noted this on any of numerous water rails flushed previously and I have never seen spotted crake in flight, but I was surprised to read that this can be a feature of spotted crake _ will check some more literature as soon as poss but does anyone else have any info on this subject?

Don't suppose many people have had good views (or photos ??)of spot crake in flight ?

Cheers

Kev

Kev.
See this link for Spotted Crake in flight - shows white leading edge to wing.

Roy

http://petewalkdensbirdphotography.foto ... 41735.html

A white leading edge is not only found in Spotted Crake...

http://blog.timesunion.com/birding/file ... 00x225.jpg

http://richditch.files.wordpress.com/20 ... 5a-720.jpg

Although it does seem to be more restricted in Sora than in Spotted. Sibley illustrates white marginal coverts in Sora, so i guess if you saw an extensive white leading edge it might be enough to rule out the rarity. Although what is rarer at Gib in November, Spotted Crake or Sora...??

Mostly

Thanks for the response and the links - I have seen the open wing of a sora and I think I would have noticed such an unusual feature as I was really struck by this bird in flight. The photo of the Upton bird, although at a different angle to my view does show how extensive this feature can be. I think the Gib bird must have been a spotted crake.

Cheers

Kev