[Bristol-Birds] Shady Valley, TN Rails

26 May 2006
Johnson County, TN
Shady Valley

J.T. McNeil and I had two VIRGINIA RAILS and "3-4 SORAS" in Shady Valley,
TN late this afternoon.  All were found in Quarry Bog.

While returning from Abingdon, VA (went to see X-Men 3) we encountered a
whopper of a storm.  We turned onto Highway 133 and stopped briefly to
observe the Great Blue Heron colony in Damascus, VA.  The lightning and
rain were pretty intense, so we did not get a good count of birds or nests.
But it does look like there may be more nests this year.  There were
several nests to the far left of the hillside that I had not noticed last
year.  Herons were everywhere!

When we reached Shady Valley (about 5:00pm), the sky had cleared somewhat. 
We stopped at Quarry Bog and decided to try our luck for Virginia Rail.  I
was hoping for a repeat performance of the Wallace Coffey/Chris O'Bryan
experience of May 2005.  We were not disappointed.

We walked down the right-handed path as far as it was mowed.  Once there,
we knelt down at the water's edge, listened for a few minutes, and then
pressed the play button on the CD player.  Immediately following the
recording, a Virginia Rail called in response (about 30-40 yards away).  We
played it a couple of more times, but did not get another call back from
the Virginia, but did get a Sora calling!  So, we played the Sora
recording.  A Sora called again.  Then another bird called, and then
another call, and yet another!  Soras were calling from (what seemed like)
four separate locations!  We played the Sora call a couple of more times. 
The closest Sora was even closer.  And then it stepped out of the grass at
the water's edge, about five yards away.  It looked at us and then ran back
into cover.  We hit the play button again and here it came.  It walked to
within three feet of us and let out a call!  Absolutely cool!  It may have
been too close to focus on it with my "close-focus" binocs!  Then it
proceeded to walk back into the grass.

During this "calling-time" (all of about five minutes), a definite two
other Soras called.

With big smiles, we stood up and started back toward the car.  We had gone
about 30 yards when a Virginia Rail called from the left (toward the white
mobile home).  Immediately following (in response) was another call from
the original direction.  Two Virginia Rails!

Smiles got bigger.

Could or would Soras nest in Shady Valley?  Quarry Bog has definitely
changed.  I almost feel like I'm somewhere along the coast, especially when
I look out over the left side area.

We tried to push our luck at Orchard Bog.  But got no responses.  Although,
we only walked down the short trail on the left.



Thomas S. McNeil
Elizabethton, TN
tsmcneil@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
tsmcneil@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
423-360-2970 (H)
423-354-2487 (W)




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