"Corncrake"

This shows that most shy of birds, the corncrake. Rarely seen, but often heard with its distinctive loud craking, the corncrake is in danger of becoming extinct due to changes in agricultural practice. More traditional ways of cutting hay (the bird nests in long grass) in the Hebrides, where crofters are now being encouraged to retain corncrake-friendly hay cutting methods, may yet ensure the birds' survival. This photo was taken through the kitchen window with just a 100 mm lens, yet many folk have never seen an example of this bird!