A Common moorhen swims away quickly as we approach. The moorhens are not than unusual nowadays. As late as the end of the 19th century, they were still considered rare in Sweden, but they are now spread across Götaland, Svealand and most of the Norrland coast. But because they are so timorous, they are rarely seen, even though at times you can see a black and white shining tail that disappears into the reeds of a pond or a small lake.