RE: Virginia Rail at the Smithsonian
David Bridge (David@simsc.si.edu)
Thu, 30 Jul 98 06:23:01
--- On Tue, 28 Jul 98 07:33:44 EDT Jim Felley <IRMSS668@SIVM.SI.EDU>
wrote:
>
>Specifically, in the Enid Haupt Garden south of the Castle. Last night
>as I was headed to the Metro, I saw an adult Virginia Rail standing by
>the shrubbery on the north-west side of the National Museum of African
>Art (I hope this is specific enough for Dave Bridge). I did a Jerry
>Lewis-style double take, which alarmed the bird (but not the tourists
>on the path with me). It scuttled into the shrubs. I wandered by the
>same spot this morning, in hopes the bird would still be there.
>
The directions worked for me !!
I stopped at the Garden on Wed. night, July 29.
Along with several other birders we had the Va. Rail under observation
from about 7pm to 7:35pm still in the very same area that Jim first
reported it. This is worth a stop, if the bird is still there today,
you will be rewarded with some of the best and probably longest views
of a Virginia Rail in your life.
I observed that the bird holds its left wing differently than the right
wing. The left wing tip is about one inch higher, but otherwise it seems
very vigorous, active and healthy.
David Bridge
David@simsc.si.edu