Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 13:32:51 -0700 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Greg Miller Subject: Black Rail (4/29) MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Howdy All! I decided on a whim (is there any other way to bird?) Saturday afternoon to head for Elliott Island, since the air seemed mild and there was virtually no wind. My race against daylight failed, but I didn't mind. What I was really after was Black Rail, a bird I had missed last year in Maryland (0-4; March, July, & August attempts). Unfortunately, I was unprepared. No flashlight. No tapes. No light/reflective clothing. No insect repellant. Just a great desire to have a decent shot at this pesky critter. I burst out from the last trees into the open swamp and quickly saw I was out of light. Rats. I stopped the truck and listened anyway. Greater Yellowlegs calling. Great-horned Owl. Nothing else. I jumped back in and raced back north toward Henry's Crossroads for Whips. The chilly air was blowing in both windows which were [of course] rolled all the way down. Two miles into the woods a Whip called close to my speeding truck. Cha-ching. I stopped and immediately turned around and headed back out into the swamp. The vast grassy swamp of Elliott Island was now completely enshrouded in darkness. This was my first solo trip to the area. Though I'd been here many times before, it was always with at least one other person. I could see the tiny lights of civilization, miles in the distance. I arrived down at the second abondoned house and parked. Across from the house was was a distant group of Canada Geese...I didn't think they'd ever shut up. But they finally did around 9:15pm. The swamp was now strangely silent. Very few frogs. Virtually no insects (this is NOT the same in June!). Only the distant eerie wailing cries of nutria filled the night air. I stood on the bridge. Around me, I could hear the occasional splash of a creature in the water. Fish? Mammal? I don't know. A couple cars had passed in the last half hour. Not a lot of traffic. Never is on Elliott (unless you're caravaning with Hal on one of his Rail trips ). The air had cooled quickly and a slight breeze blew right through my sweatshirt. I shivered. The black sky was full of stars. I watched a couple satellites pass. I felt strangely alone and surprisingly (to me anyway) a little frightened. My gas tank was on "E". Mr. Fear was working his magic on my mind. My truck has over 150,000 miles on it. My cell phone has little if any signal. A hundred scary movies were in recall in my mind. I calmed myself. How could I admit to anyone I was actually a little scared by...nothing? I was birding, wasn't I? I had to work harder at the calming part. I looked at the old house. My eyes had adjusted to darkness and I could actually see in the empty house. There were no lights inside or out. I shuddered. That place gave me the creeps. I looked out into the swamp. A Marsh Wren chimed up cheerily for a rousing round of 15 seconds worth of sound, only to fall silent again. Waiting by myself seemed like an eternity. The air was much colder now. I watched two more cars pass, hoping that they might contain birders who were eager to get Black Rail. But no one stopped. Night sounds in the endless marsh increased. Almost all of the sounds seemed foreign to me. Unrecognizable. A light breeze had picked up and was muffling the deafening silence of the vast expanse of marshland. I went to the truck and turned on the dome light to see my watch. 9:25pm?!? I've only been here 55 minutes? Aargh. It had been a long two days of birding, covering 10 counties and nearly 300 miles. I felt like laying down. NOT in the swamp, silly...in a bed. In the next moments, my thoughts of fear, drowsiness, and boredom all became indistinct as new emotions and thoughts replaced it...in an instant, too. Calling in the distance, opposite the second [southernmost] house was a single BLACK RAIL! Warmth returned to my body as I could feel the excitement rush to my face. Though some distance away, the distinct kerk-ee-doo call caused me to heave a sigh of relief. Three times it called before falling silent again. I waited more easily this time. Twelve minutes passed and it [or another bird near the same location] called twice more. A close Clapper Rail made it's ticking noise close by. A pleasent addition to tonight's list. No other rails called and my endurance was at its limit. Yes, I made it to an open gas station and yes, I found a hotel bed to fall into as well. It was a terrific birding weekend. I'll send some highlights later. Happy and home... Greg Miller Hollywood, MD __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online and get email alerts with Yahoo! 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