This is my first photo of an American Coot. I am not sure of the status of this species in my area, but in my experience they are not common, bordering on being rare, and I have never seen any up close like this. I don’t even remember the last time I saw one! I see Common Moorhens every year, though, and they are considered to be uncommon.
 
I saw three American Coots this morning, what appeared to be a family unit with one younger bird, and they swam right up to me after initially retreating for a moment as I maneuvered along the edge of the reeds to find a good angle for photography. The same moment they came within range of my camera the sun shone though a break in the clouds and cast some nice light on the birds. It was a rare moment when everything just seemed to go right!