Gallinule Chicks

You don't see Gallinules very often and if you do, not for long. They are very difficult to get close to. If you keep your eyes open, you may see their chickens for a second while they quietly hide. This is the first time I have managed to sneak up on them.

As you may guess from the feet, they don't swim very well.
However, their long toes allow them to run over waterplants and they can dive from a very young age (hence the wet look). They use both their beaks and their sharp claws when they fight; a fight may even result in a broken leg.

Sigma 135-400mm (270-800mm in terms of 35mm film) zoom, 1/200s, f5.6, ISO 100 using monopod.