Virginia Rail

I made a trip to RNWR today. It had been a while since I had visited and I was hoping to see some juvenile Yellow-headed Blackbirds. I did see some, but I wasn't able to get any decent pictures.
I walked the Kiwa Hiking Trail for the first time since last year. It was actually just the second time for me.
As I walked along the small stream that the trail loops back on, I heard some loud chatter in the tall grass that is growing along the waters edge. I suspected Virginia Rails, but of course, they wouldn't show themselves. They were on the my side of the stream and were literally at my feet.
Then I got the idea that if I looped around maybe I could see them from the other side. This worked out only marginally. I saw one adult creeping along the through the grass and another moving in the grass, but couldn't get a clear view. I was hoping to see a juvenile.
I squatted down and waited a bit and eventually the adult crossed over some matted grass and I got a clear view, but only for a moment and too quick to get a shot off.
Eventually I gave up and wandered back to the other side and then heard another Rail on the other side of the path. They began to call to each other from both sides. This, I decided, was my opportunity. I positioned myself on the path so I was just back a bit from the line that led between them, squatted down and waited, camera ready to shoot. Sure enough, it didn't take too long and the other adult crossed over not far from me. I lucked out as it stopped momentarily and I was able to get some pretty good shots of it. Even the sun was well positioned!

Virginia Rail

The Soras and Virginia Rails continue to be very accessible along South Quigley Lake at RNWR. Yesterday I managed to see one catch a worm.

Virginia Rail

Some more Virginia Rail photos taken at RNWR this past Friday. The lake along the auto tour between markers 2 & 3 has become popular with those looking for Virginia Rails and Soras. The are fairly easy to find and are a lot of fun trying to get clear shots as they wander in and out of the cattails and brush along the waters edge.
I'm getting the itch to move away from Blogger again as these images were altered by Picasa. Many are darker than the way I processed them. Ya get what you pay for though I guess. :-)

Virginia Rail

I lost the Sora in the Cattails after awhile, then refound it it further down the road; or so I thought.
I only got a few pictures of the bird at that point and there were few unobstructed views. To my surprise, when I viewed these last images of what I thought were more Sora pictures, I found that the last views I had where actual that of a Virginia Rail.
The two birds are similar in size and shape, but the coloring is different. The bill of the Virginia Rail is longer and thinner and more orange than the Sora. Its legs are orangish rather than green and the breast and belly peachy rather than gray.