[SBB] cooperative Black Rail

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All,

I decided to check the Palo Alto Baylands at high tide today 12/31/05, figuring that the wind and rain would augment the tide.  Indeed this was the case, with the water being as high as I have seen it, nearly completely submerging the wooden post at "rail corner" (the water covered the number "28" that is above the vertical "CSC" letters).  Water was flowing from the yacht harbor basin directly into the duck pond.

There was no place for rails to hide at rail corner, but we did see 4 CLAPPER RAILS on the nearly submerged PG&E catwalk under the high tension towers and a SORA swimming its way to shore, diving many times to avoid attacks by RING-BIILED GULLS.  The gulls were capturing dozens of mice with ease.  Sandy Koonce and I headed out past the interpretive center and found several mice, a shrew, a VIRGINIA RAIL, and another CLAPPER RAIL before being escorted out by park staff.  This proved to be fortuitous, however, because as we walked back out a BLACK RAIL flushed from along the dike and flew to the hydrant near the interpretive center.  As we neared the center, it again flushed and flew around behind the building where everything was flooded.  We scanned the boardwalk from the parking lot but saw no rail.  When the water subsided a bit we headed back out - seeing no place where a rail could land I decided to check underneath the interpretive center building.  Remarkably, there was the BLACK RAIL, perched on the white Grumman conoe under the building!  First noted here at about 12:20pm, the bird sat in the same spot until at least 2:15pm when I left.  It was seen by dozens and dozens of people (including many non-birders) during this time.

That was Santa Clara County year bird number 264 for me - and likely my last species for 2005.  Get to start all over again tomorrow! :)

Mike Rogers
Sunnyvale

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