The activity pattern of a nock of moorhens at Cork Lough was determined during the winter of 1992-93 using instantaneous scan sampling. Data were collected mostly during daylight hours and the principal activities were recorded. Feeding was the most important activity of observed birds, representing 38% of time, followed by swimming (23%) and walking (18%). Grazing was the main foraging strategy, accounting for 75% of time spent feeding. There was significant variation in activities both diurnally and over the winter. In general, birds spent more time on land than on water. Anthropogenic sources of terrestrial and aquatic disturbance were recorded and related to moorhen activities.