Today I was able to get some close photographs of an American Coot. I was taking pictures of the sunset when this solo Coot swam up to me. I was able to snap these shots.
American Coots are related to cranes and sometimes called mud hens. They are often mistaken for a duck because they are often swimming around like ducks. Their feet look more like dinosaur feet. Clearly a sign that birds are descendent of dinosaurs.
Their feet have some webbing that help it swim and walk around on mud flats. They also have sharp claws and look like their feet may act like suction cups for better gripping onto a wet log.