One of those special birds eagerly sought is a rail species. These marsh birds are secretive and stay within the boundaries of a marsh or thick coverage. Kathy Toomey texted me as soon as I walked in the door , home from work.She had a rail species, certain it was a one thing until I was able to get there 10 minutes later and eventually confirm the species.
The rail was seen by Kathy walking the edge of the phrgamite marsh across from the Wellhouse. But when I got here it disappeared. It took 20 minutes ,when I walked away and Kathy needing to leave , instead came after me when I checked the adjoining marsh. I ran back with her and we could see the rail feeding in the middle of the marsh.After several minutes viewing the small rail, with enough of our looks, it turns out to be a VIRGINIA RAIL. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/virginia_rail/id
More tweets and alerts, Dennis Hrehowsik came along and we wait 20 minutes later when it had disappeared again before Dennis arrived.. I left, but 15 minutes later got a tweet that Dennis H and Kristin Costello had the rail. Another twiitter tweet 10 minutes later, Keir Randall also had the bird.
Hopefully it will stick around..
The phragmite marsh is across from the Well house, the first small peninsula along the lake shore . Look for the single red ladder metal post with the hook. Bald Cypress trees with poison ivy trunk is behind the post. The phragmite marsh is to the right.We saw the bird in the midsection. Earlier Kathy had the rail on the edges.
map ---> https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zxPoHx468byE.kC8yvmpNYjH8
Sandy Paci earlier posted a good large movement of ground birds on the surrounding fields that included the following : YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS,PALM WARBLER,BLACKPOLL WARBLER, AMERICAN REDSTART, YELLOW SHAFTED FLICKER, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER,EASTERN PHOEBES WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS. Typical fall stuff to report but a sign of fall's bounty.
Great to be birding now in Prospect.
