Due to a sudden change in plans, I found myself with an open morning and
decided to head to Bethel Beach for a couple hours this morning. My 11
year old son accompanied me and helped spot birds as well. My main goal
was to try and get some pictures of the Clapper Rail chicks....and I
did...sort of.
As soon as we turned the corner headed to the beach, a Green Heron
popped out of the ditch and flew to a nearby tree...a good start to the
morning. The osprey were talking and flying all around the beach as we
pulled in. It was high tide and still coming in...not much beach
there. We headed down toward the osprey nest and I stopped at the
little ponds on the inshore side just before the osprey platform. A
Willett was in there and I was taking a picture of it when I caught
something moving near there...it was a Clapper Rail. She didn't see me
and was walking along the edge of the grass. I snapped a few pics and
she heard the camera and started moving towards the grass. I got a few
more before she got into the weeds and disappeared. We walked all the
way around to the point. Nothing much out there except for a few gulls
and a couple terns. No shore birds at all. On the walk back, I got
pictures of what I think is a Tri-Color heron. We got a couple more
pics of another pair of Willetts before we returned to the truck.
We started back up the road and the Rails were calling everywhere. We
had come back over the bridge and there were several that seemed to be
talking back and forth across the road. I stopped the truck and we
listened for a few minutes. It sounded like it was right beside us. I
got out and moved to the back of the truck and listened. It was right
beside me and I couldn't see it. A big truck came through and slowed as
it went by...and sure enough, a Rail popped up from right in front of me
and flew about 30 feet back into the weeds. We moved up a few feet and
sat and watched...up popped a head...it was a Clapper Rail....then we
noticed movement near it, it was a chick, then another one. They were
in grass that was 10-12 inches tall, so all we saw were heads popping up
every now and then. We think it was two adults and two chicks. We sat
there for almost an hour and they stayed in that same area. I got a few
pictures, but nothing below the shoulders. We saw two others run across
the road while we were there. It was my son's first time there and he
had a good time....he liked the beach better than the birding I think.
Pictures at:
http://public.fotki.com/bhouston/miscellaneous/nature_pics/20110617-bethel-beach/
Complete list:
Osprey 8
Clapper rail 6 (4 adult, 2 young)
Egret 4
Willetts 8
E king bird 1
Great blue heron 3
Tri-Color heron
Terns 4
Black vultures 6
Sea side-sparrow 2
Green heron 1
Red-wing black bird 6
Mallard 2
Barbara Houston
New Kent, VA
