Climbed up into the reeds to avoid a nearby River Otter. This is the North American race which differs from Caribbean and South American populations in its more extensive brown back extending over its wing coverts. Recently split from the Common Moorhen of Eurasia which has its frontal shield more rounded and widest in the middle instead of truncate and widest at the top as seen here. Panasonic DMC-LX5 / Nikon FS 3 / 30XWA / hand-held, no adapter.
Reference:
Bannor, Brett K. and Erik Kiviat. (2002). Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata), The Birds of North America (P. G. Rodewald, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America: https://birdsna.org/Species-Account/bna/species/comgal1 DOI: 10.2173/bna.685