Struck out today in my quest to find the Black Rail at Charlie's Pond.
I arrived at 10:15am and rail watchers said the bird had been heard
calling at dawn, but not since.  I hung around until 11:45am, broke for
lunch, and returned at 1:15pm for another attempt.  No joy.  A gentleman
from Toledo, who left home at 3am to chase this bird, had a good theory:
Perhaps the rails have established territory and begun nesting, thus
don't need to call so frequently.  Whatever the reason, I was sorry to
miss them and wish the evening shift better luck.

The trip wasn't a total wash-out.  I did get several good birds
including my Life GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, heard singing the minute I
stepped out of my car and good looks in the scope, my Life ALDER
FLYCATCHER, and my first sight of HENLSOW'S SPARROWS (previous birds in
2007 and 2006 were "heard only.")

The rest of my trip list:  Barn, Tree and Northern Rough-winged
Swallows, Dicksissel, Horned Lark, Eastern Meadowlark, Mourning Dove,
Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, American Robin, Turkey Vulture,
Great Blue Heron, and the following "heard only" birds:  Song Sparrow,
Ring-necked Pheasant, Common Yellowthroat.

Birders were on excellent behavior:  Quiet voices, no tapes or i-pods in
use, no trespassing or blokcking the road, and everybody parked uphill
from the softer ground near the swale.

~Kathi Hutton
Felicity
http://katdocsworld.blogspot.com/

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