I believe that Mike is correct to at least suggest that there might be three
rails at this site. When we were there we heard them calling from both
sides of the road, and from considerable distances apart. It was my thought
at the time that there could very well be three birds.
Joe Faulkner
Somerset, Ohio
Perry County
On 6/3/08, Mike Yough <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Greetings all.
>
> Inspired by previous posts, I headed to Charlie's Pond this morning
> and was rewarded for doing so.
>
> I stepped out of the car at 6:08, heard the first rail at 6:09, and
> then had an excellent, though brief, view at 6:12. My experience
> seemed to mimic Rob Lowry's in many respects in that I saw it at
> relatively close range (about 15 ft.). I had a nice profile view for
> about 5 seconds--3 of those through binoculars--while the rail stood
> virtually motionless before heading deeper into the vegetation. It was
> on the south side of the road about 20 feet west of the drain pipe
> near the edge of the grass about two feet deep. I was only able to see
> it due to a "lane" made by the trampling of vegetation mentioned in
> previous reports.
>
> Having said that, I wholeheartedly agree with previous commentators
> that this is a bird that is just not going to be seen by pursuit.
> Indeed, I can't help but notice that 2 of the 3 visual sightings
> reported on this listserve occurred within moments of arrival rather
> than after having spent extended periods of time at the site (which I
> know many have). I'm not sure about Rob's visit, but I was the only
> one there at the time of my sighting. Does this suggest that the
> presence of observers is positioning these birds to keep a low
> profile? If so, how should we modify our viewing habits?
>
> Regarding the number of rails at this site, Jim McCormick mentioned
> hearing a female, and at one point this morning I thought I may have
> heard a female as well though I am not at all familiar with its
> vocalizations, but simply working from Jim's description (and that it
> was something novel to me). So, another question--if there had been
> previous reports of hearing two distinct males, does this suggest that
> there are 3 (or more) birds at the site? I spent about an hour and a
> half there this morning and it seemed that I was hearing calls far
> enough apart and close enough in time to suggest more than one male,
> but I couldn't be sure since I couldn't rule out a very mobile bird!
>
> Anyway...
>
> The Alder Flycatcher was also very cooperative, and the Dickcissels
> and Grasshopper Sparrows were very conspicuous. Also observed: Horn
> Lark.
>
> Good birding to all.
>
> Mike Yough
> Glen Echo/Columbus
>
>
> --
> "Prosperity knits a man to the world. He feels he is 'finding his
> place in it,' while really it is finding its place in him."
>
> -C.S. Lewis (from The Screwtape Letters)
>
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