Water Rail calling in response to a Cetti's singing

[jerryh]

In the Minsmere Island Mere Hide on Sunday, as it was approaching dusk, I noticed on a number of occasions that a Water Rail called immediately after a Cetti's Warbler sang. It happened often enough, and the Cetti's sang infrequently enough, that I don't think it was a coincidence.

Why did it do that?

Also heard my first Bittern boom of the year

Jerry

[purds]

If there both new arrivals it could be males warning of there territories i suppose different species do warn others.

[Jonny]

We have both cetti's and water rails at my local reserve, but I have never heard a rail respond to a cetti before, infact, thinking about it, I don't think I have ever heard any bird respond to one of a different species, apart from alarm calls of course. Perhaps they were telling each other the best hiding spots (they can both be hard to spot).........................Jon