At about 18.30 hours on 29th September 1989, while watching a Spotted Crake Porzana porzana from a hide at Porth Hellick Pool, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, I became aware of a struggle in the reedbed. Through a 45 X telescope, I clearly saw a Water Rail Rallus aquaticus repeatedly stabbing a Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago with its bill. The Snipe became partly submerged under water, while the rail
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