FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Black Railing at Huntley

["Alex Merritt" <cerulean182@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Va-bird,
My dad and I went out to Huntley this morning arriving at the rail spot 
described by Kurt Gaskill at about 5:45.  We met up with Todd Day who had 
arrived somewhat earlier.  The Black Rail was heard calling fairly 
consistently for the hour and half I was there.  The bird was actually very 
close to the boardwalk, just inside the thick vegetation.  Kurt Gaskill 
deserves a pat on the back for this superb find.  Brace yourselves though, 
the story gets a little more incredible. The bird began moving as it was 
calling, and I spotted it walking across a small gut.  We all got brief 
views, but headed down to the next opening in the marsh in the hopes it 
continued moving.  In a shocking display the Black Rail walked into the big 
opening, exposing itself completely at a range of 15 or 20 feet.  The bird 
then flew across a wet spot and walked back into thick vegetation.  We got 
absolutely crippling views in excellent light and were left astounded to say 
to least.  Later the bird moved under the boardwalk and began calling from 
the part of the marsh encircled by the boardwalk loop.  The bird is audibly 
quite conspicuous and with patience visible.
Good Birding,
Alex

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alex Merritt
Oak Hill, VA
cerulean182@xxxxxxxxxxx
AIM:cerulean182

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