Moorhens normally appear to have a completely black plumage with streaks of white on the wings and tail.
The low angle and brightness of the sunshine when this picture was taken have shown up the blue tint in the bird’s dark feathers.
Appears like small white shoots on rotting wood In fact, black at the base, then grey, becoming white and most visible towards the tip – supposedly similar to the wick of a candle which is no longer burning.