VA BIRDers,
While looking (unsuccessfully!) for the Glossy Ibis reported in the morning,
I heard a calling Black Rail from a thick area of cattails near the boardwalk
at Huntley late this afternoon, about 6 pm. The area the bird called from is
the outer, eastern edge of the boardwalk loop, near a wide spot in the
boardwalk that has a sawtooth edge. As you walk into the marsh on the
boardwalk take the first left junction and in about 50 yds you are at the
location.
The bird was calling from deep in the nearby cattails approximately 5-10
yards east from me. The call was unmistakeable. Up close, the "kiki-doo"
song has a slurring and rolling noise character, the latter portion having a
rolling character somewhat like the pronunciation of some spanish words; the
song ends with a slightly rolling "drrre" ending on a short downward note.
The bird sang repeatedly for a good 20 or 30 seconds. There were a few
Red-winged Blackbirds in the area; I could not see the rail.
Also, yesterday there was a Semipalmated Plover hanging out with the Killdeer
in the muddy areas that used to pond.
Kurt Gaskill
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