Waterhens are clowns of the water

My boat was tied up in a marina and I was sitting on deck when a visitor arrived. A waterhen walking slowly along the jetty. They really are the clowns among water birds.

The vermillion beak with its bright yellow tip is like a ridiculous false nose, there are two vulgar white flashes on its bum and the feet! Huge green feet with long gangling toes, so long they have to lift them high off the ground every time it takes a step, which results in a comical gait.

Most waterhens (I prefer this name to moorhen, which is English rather than Irish) are shy birds of rural waterways but the marina I was in was in the middle of the bustling town of Athlone, Co Westmeath, and my visitor was far from shy, paying no attention to boats, dogs or people. They are joining the growing number of water bird species that are discovering the advantages of living among people. The first were probably mute swans, followed by mallard ducks. Grey herons started becoming urban dwellers about 20 years ago and now it’s waterhens.