Virginia Rail photos by Larry Jordan
Lucky enough to get out of work a bit early one day last month, I headed over to Lema Ranch to follow up on a lead from my friend Debbie who spotted a Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) out in the open the previous day. We see Soras at Mule Pond all the time but I had never seen a Virginia Rail there before. As a matter of fact, I had only seen a Virginia Rail once before anywhere.
As I approached the pond I spotted the rail right away. It was exactly where she said it would be, foraging in the mudflats for invertebrates. The sun was behind and to the right of the bird, not the best light for photographing, but I took several shots where I was kneeling in case this usually secretive bird decided to beat it back into the bulrush.
If startled, the Virginia Rail will usually run to escape danger, but according to Birds of North America Online, they may also dive and swim, using their wings to propel themselves underwater. Who woulda thought that?
Once I was satisfied that I had some good photos, I slowly got up and worked my way, in a huge circular path away from the bird, toward the pond where I could get a better angle and have the sun at my back.
As I sat motionless for quite awhile, wrapped up in the bird’s search for food, it would occasionally look up at me, then carry on as if I wasn’t there.
Virginia Rails breed predominantly in freshwater wetlands like Mule Pond, but nests have also been reported in salt marshes. Shallow water, emergent cover, and substrate with high invertebrate abundance are thought to be the most important features of their habitat1.
It was fun watching this bird probing the mudflats, coming up with what looked like small worms most of the time. They eat a variety of insect larvae, worms, aquatic invertebrates and small fish but they also eat aquatic plants and the seeds of emergent plants1.
Some of the photos I got did show the bird with worms in its beak, but they were blurred, for the most part due to the combination of being in the shade of the bulrush and the rapid thrusting motion the bird used to probe the mud and pull up the little morsels. This short video shows the Virginia Rail’s feeding behavior better than the still shots.
I spent over thirty minutes at the Virginia Rail show. It was hard for me to tear myself away.
As this rail worked his or her way along the mudflats away from me, I picked up my gear and slowly followed to an area with deeper water and good light.
Notice that the birds beak is covered with mud in almost every photo. As we came to the deeper water, I got some shots showing the bright orange bill and the bird actually probing the mud.
I took one last shot as my star Virginia Rail walked off with the still water reflecting those beautiful rusty colors and that cute upturned tail following right behind.
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References: 1 Birds of North America Online
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You were lucky to have so much time to observe this Rail – great series, also the video!
It’s about a year that I saw my first Rail. We don’t have the Virginia type – I saw the Water Rail. They look quite alike, I think: http://dreamfalcon.wordpress.com/2009/11/07/birding-at-klingnauer-stausee/klingnaunov06-10/
Fantastic. Congratulations. I’ve only ever gotten a glimpse as it disappears back into the reeds.
You got some really good shots of it. I have only seen one. And it was half hidden in the reed most of the time I spent there.
Awesome, awesome images of Virginia Rail! How fortunate to see one out in the open like that.
Amazing shots. Not only do you stumble upon an unusually cooperative Rail, but you have your scope and camera along, Thanks for sharing that experience with us.
I bet it was hard to tear yourself away. I know it would have been hard for me! You photos are wonderful…and I loved the video as well. I loved this post!
Great shots, Larry!
Fantastic photos. It was certainly worth while going to the other side of the water to get the sun in the right direction.
Always a beautiful bird to see and great shots as usual! I actually spooked a Virginia Rail once at the edge of a pond and it jumped right into the water. I was astonished of course.
@Natalie it was so much fun watching this little guy foraging in the mud. Your Water Rail looks very much like this Virginia Rail
@Bill, previous to this encounter, all I ever saw was a glimpse
@NF that does seem to be the way this bird is most often seen, well camouflaged in the reeds
@Pat thank you. I do feel very fortunate
@Jason I always have my camera with me 🙂
@Kelly it seems always hard for me to tear myself away from a bird photo shoot. I always wonder if I’ll ever get another chance to photograph whatever bird I have in my lens at the time
@Klaus thanks!
@Mick I was just glad that I was able to move without the bird disappearing into the reeds
@Chantelle these birds are easy to spook because they blend in so well, sometimes we don’t see them until we’re right on top of them. I was amazed to learn that they dive and swim underwater though!
Wow, excellent shots. I’ve only seen Virginia’s once, and I hope my next time is as good as yours!