Last night, I meant to measure the distance from the rail spot back 
to the edge of the woods but I forgot (seems to be a lot of that 
going around, lately ... hmmm). Anyway, looking at Google Earth, I'm 
guessing that the rail spot is about 0.6 miles south from the edge of 
the woods, on the west side of the road. The entire road looks like 
it runs 1.6 miles from the edge of the woods to the end of the road.

Can any of you guys that stayed at Irish Grove confirm that distance 
or provide better directions for the people that are going to try 
tonight and later this week. Did any take GPS coordinates?

BTW, the general consensus is that it's best to just listen since 
YERAs don't see to be too responsive to tapes (or stone tapping).

Thanks!

Phil


At 03:27 04/26/2009, Phil Davis wrote:
>MD Osprey:
>
>Well, good news ... and bad news ...
>
>The good news ... we heard the Yellow Rails calling between 11:20 pm 
>(4/25) and midnight at the same spot as where the birds were the 
>night before. There were probably two birds calling.
>
>The bad news ... Despite my message, below, I inadvertently left my 
>cell phone sitting on the counter at home when I left the house. 
>Duh! I was trying to get all the charge I could and I told my self, 
>"You're going to forget to take it!" and, sure enough, I did! Sorry 
>for any confusion. A special apology to Nico!
>
>When we (Paul O'Brien, Harvey and Marion Mudd, and I) got there we 
>found Jim Stasz, Hans Holbrook, Mike Burchett, and Tom Feild already 
>there. They said the birds started calling about 10 minutes before 
>we arrived. The wind picked up while we were there and we think the 
>birds then clammed up after midnight ... or if they continued to 
>call, the wind made it difficult to tell.
>
>Success, finally!
>
>Phil
>
>
>At 16:03 04/25/2009, Phil Davis wrote:
>>MD Osprey:
>>
>>Paul O'Brien and I are going to try our annual "Yellow Rail Chase a 
>>Day After They Were Reported" ... hopefully we will be more 
>>successful than last year. We probably will not get down to Rumbly 
>>Point Road much before 11 pm or so tonight.
>>
>>If anyone else is going to try for them, let's do this ...
>>
>>
>>1.  If you have an FRS radio, use channel 11-22,so we can 
>>coordinate when we are in the area.
>>
>>2. Exchange cell phone numbers. My is 240-460-5159. I will probably 
>>make my last check of email around 7:30 pm or so to see who else 
>>may be out and to get your cell number. You can call my anytime 
>>during the night (I AM an "night owl" !)
>>
>>3. If anyone wants to check other marshes, such as Elliott Island 
>>Road, please do so, and pass on the results, we will do likewise if 
>>we have success at Rumbly Point.
>>
>>Good luck!
>>
>>Phil
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>At 05:39 04/25/2009, jo leachman wrote:
>>>This post is on behalf of a group of birders, not including 
>>>myself, who actually stayed up all last night in a marsh in Somerset County:
>>>
>>>Beginning last night around 11:30 p.m. until 4 a.m. this morning 
>>>(4/25/09), 3 YELLOW RAILS were intermittently heard 1/2 way down 
>>>Rumbly Point Rd. in Somerset County.
>>>Observers included: Hans Holbrook, Mikey Lutmerding, Bill Hubick, 
>>>Tom Feild, Jim Brighton, Jim Stasz, Ron Gutberlet, Mike Walsh, 
>>>Stan Arnold, Jonn Hubbell, and Matt Haffner - hopefully I am not 
>>>missing anyone!
>>>
>>>-Jo Anna Leachman Lutmerding
>>>Upper Marlboro, MD
>>>(just getting out of bed :))
>>
>>==================================
>>Phil Davis      Davidsonville, Maryland     USA
>>                 mailto:[log in to unmask]
>>==================================