The Black Rail was calling sporadically this evening from about 7:00 until
8:30. Nine people heard the rail from the south side of Radcliffe Road. At
times it sounded very close (within 5-10 feet from the road but hidden in
vegetation). Then it would sound quite distant as if it was 30-50 feet away.
At one point, several of us thought we were hearing two separate rails
calling from a great distance apart.
Regarding the neighbor (?property owner?), a man on a riding mower was
trimming the edge of the vegetation near the closest house. The rail
actually starting calling as the mower got a little closer! But the person
on the mower NEVER came very close to us. Someone in the group mentioned he
had earlier asked directions from the neighbor: my impression of his story
was the homeowner was working outside at the time. I don't recall hearing
the word "irate" in the tale... perhaps the neighbor was just trying to get
chores done on a very hot evening!
RUTS: I initially drove past Charlie's Pond because I did not see where
people had been pulling over along the side of the road. When I found the
correct location, I parked UPHILL and west of the wet area and walked back.
I did notice a few areas depressed by tires, but none of the "ruts" looked
more than a half an inch deep, if that. But as previously posted by others,
consideration of potential tire tracks is in order.

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