01/04 : Lesser Moorhen -- to be or not to be?

Late yesterday afternooon (31/03) I received an e-mail from Stephen Powell who lives in Frigiliana (Málaga) along with two photos (shown here by kind permission of Steve) and along with them the challenge to identify the bird.













The photographs had been taken that self-same afternoon at the Charca de Suárez, Motril (Granada) which is a very neat little peri-urban reserve and just made for rails and such like species. Steve, like me, hadn't much of an idea what it was (and bear in mind he'd seen and photographed both Spotted and Baillon's Crakes there that same afternoon.
It was about the same size as the other two species, he described it as a large starling size to me this morning, and its movements were typically rail-like and typically skulking, giving only very brief views. The conclusion that he had come to, not unnaturally, I think, was that it was a Lesser Moorhen Gallinula angulata.
I put the photos out on fororoa and also sent them to selected friends who could be relied upon to spread the news. Reactions varied from 'it's only a Moorhen', one offering that it was a second
year bird, through to others which were firmly in favour of it being the species claimed.

So this morning, and thanks to the help of Jesús Diez with directions, I set off on the 120+km run for Motril, met Jesús and also Steve who had ventured down from his mountain. Of course, a Sunday morning is not the best time and day of the week to go birding and although we did see a Spotted Crake, nothing resembling this bird as there was too much in the way of noise. I was at least able to question Steve, which in fairness was when the information about the starling-like size came out.
Also, by the simple expedient of asking around, Señorita Pilar Muñoz, a young lady who obviously knew more about crakes than I, volunteered the information that she had seen it on Saturday morning and described it as being about the size of a Spotted Crake, ashy grey on head, neck and mantle with a bluish tinge, a dark underbody and white under the tail. Good, corroborative information. She was sure it was a crake of some sort but had no idea what.

All of these details can be seen on Steve's two shots so there, My Lords, I rest the case. And you, dear reader, having read the evidence and seen the photos and the details therein, can decide for yourselves.
Was it? Wasn't it? And if not, why not? All answers written on high denomination bank notes will be published.
Or is it another of those odd things that birding throws up from time to time and for which there is never a satisfactory solution.
I should add that I believe that the odds are in favour of it being one, probably an immature bird from the bill colouration, but insufficient for an acceptance by the Spanish Rarities Committee (to whom I shall be sending a Spanish version of this).

NOTE: To 'anonymous', if you had put your name to your comment, I would have published it. I think that I and readers have a right to know who is sending the comment. All please note.