Virginia Rails are so secretive this is only the fourth time I’ve posted images of them to my blog in 11 years of blogging. And one of those four times was a rerun.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Yesterday morning at Farmington Bay WMA I had a very difficult time spotting this rail, even when it was pointed out to me (my 74 year old eyes ain’t what they used to be). It probably took me nearly a minute to see it, even though I knew approximately where it was. Virginia Rails are secretive by nature so when you throw in their cryptic coloration and plumage patterns it becomes painfully clear why they’re “more often heard than seen”.
It was highly frustrating to know it was there and mostly out in the open and not be able to spot it but eventually I did.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
It did a fair amount of posing before it turned around and disappeared into the cattails. This leisurely wing stretch was one of the poses I liked.
I’m only including two photos of this bird, mostly because I was having trouble getting sharp shots for much of the morning. Most of my photos of this rail and a fairly cooperative kingfisher were just too soft to be anything but fodder for the delete bin.
So now I have to sleuth out the source of the problem, one I’ve been noticing for a few days now. It could be an issue with my camera, my lens or my teleconverter but I’m fearful that my lens is the most likely culprit.
That’s all I need, potentially having to ship my lens to Canon in these times of parts shortages and shipping snafus. Thanks for nothing, Murphy.
Ron
PS – It was only six months ago that I last sent my lens in for repair so I won’t be a happy bird photographer if the problem turns out to be my lens again.
I was not that familiar with rails so I looked them up and discovered that a coot is a rail. So of course I had to look that up : from Quora:
First used in the 1700’s to refer to a harmless simple person. ‘A coot’ is a bird that bobs its head as it walks and swims, similar to an elderly person. It also means, a person who is foolish/eccentric/stupid. In modern times, it is used in an affectionate way towards elderly men.
Wait
What about elderly women?
Cootess…? 🙂
Yes. Thank you.
Beautiful rail! And hoping it isn’t the lens!
Thanks x 2, Marty.
Well done, Ron. Any photo of a Virginia Rail is always appreciated. Wetlands are hard to come by in my neck of the woods, and my local marsh is frequently dry, thanks to a new expressway. Thanks for posting. Best of luck with your camera.
“my local marsh is frequently dry, thanks to a new expressway”
I really hate to hear that, Diane. Something similar is being done right next to Farmington Bay WMA.
Super shots Ron! Thanks for sharing!
Charlotte Norton
Thanks, Charlotte.
Three years ago while on the annual Audobon Christmas Bird count, the last bird we counted was one in reeds in a slight creek just off a road. Even though the person who spotted it pointed its out several times and even though it was moving, it took me a good minute to finally see it. Beautiful bird. It was the only one counted in any of your area’s groups CBC that year. Next year it was in the same place, but not seen since then. I took some photos of it but they weren’t close to being as nice as yours. Thanks for sharing!
Kent, I couldn’t believe how hard it was for me to see this one. My eyes aren’t as good as Chuck Yeager’s used to be (his visual acuity was rated by the military at 20/10) but they aren’t THAT bad!
Neat captures of this elusive, and as you emphasize, difficult to see bird. Your difficulty in spotting it reminded me of the time I was photographing a Clapper Rail using a tripod. Two birders came by and asked me what I was photographing. I stepped back from the tripod and started to point to the rail, but I could not see it. I thought it must have moved deeper into the reeds. But when I looked in the viewfinder, it was in the same spot.
I’ve had similar experiences, Dave. I’ve learned to try to memorize landmarks when I look away from my viewfinder when it’s on a potentially difficult bird to locate again. Sometimes even then I can’t relocate it.
Virginia Rail and Sora. I’ve yet to see either. Your photos will certainly suffice for the time being.
Regarding your reply to April that “The basics needed to sustain (my) life are food, water, shelter and properly working photo gear…”, In my case I would replace the last item with Feathered Photography. Oh, and tofu (I’m sure you just inadvertently left that off😋).
Lyle, I’m glad I already ate lunch or your last sentence would have ruined my appetite.
And thank you for the very kind words about my blog.
What lovely shots. Rails are just so elusive. The colors of the bird blend so well with the vegetation, it’s no wonder photos are scarce. Good luck with the lens.
Thank you, Buff. Elusive indeed. It’s so frustrating to hear them in the marsh and not be able to see them.
A subtle charmer. I am so glad that you were able to see and capture it. Waiting for packages to be delivered is an exercise in frustration here too. I hope (fervently) that your lens isn’t the problem.
Thanks, EC. I hope so too.
Virginia Rails are exquisite birds and these 2 photos really show off their amazing colors and beauty. I am so very grateful that your lens cooperated for at least 2 clear shots. Thank you for your patience, persistence and steady hands. I will cross my fingers that the cure for the problem with focusing is an easy one. May I recommend shipping via UPS or FedEx rather than USPS?
If it becomes necessary I’ll be taking your recommendation, Melanie. You can count on it.
Virginia Rail, Virginia Reel — I have to admit, every time I see reference to the former my mind immediately goes on the latter! And like you and Stephen, I much prefer the Rail, such a pretty bird. The complementary colors of bird, habitat and light in these photos are lovely, soothing to the eye.
Fingers X’d you’re not going to be faced with another lens repair
Thanks, Chris. I’m REALLY hoping it doesn’t come to having to send my lens to Canon for repair.
I really love these shots. Something about them is very tranquil to me. I need a bit of tranquility right now.
“I need a bit of tranquility right now”
Don’t we all, Arwen.
I try to put all this stress into perspective. The manager of the Smith’s grocery store (owned by Kroger) I use is a friend of mine. She’s tearing her hair out because there’s a nationwide shortage of plastic bags so there are no bags, none at all, available for customers in the produce department. All of Kroger’s bags, nationwide, are sitting offshore in a container ship west of L.A.
So I try to remind myself that things could be worse…
I’ve switched to reusable but I can’t imagine the frustration of your friend.
Beautiful harmony of colors between the Rail and the background vegetation. Congrats! As for the camera issue you might think this is the stimulus to go mirrorless. I tried that and have come to the conclusion that at a certain age ” the devil you know is better than…. Good luck!
John, even when I do go mirrorless I’ll almost certainly stick with this same lens and the lens is the most likely source of my problems. Hope I’m wrong…
I love the rail shots! I like the golden light and the wing stretch. I hear rails more than see them. Jon can’t see as well either he is 76. I get frustrated with him when pointing out wildlife and he just tells me I making up stories, there isn’t anything there! How did we get old so fast?
My auto focus on my Canon 100-400 zoom is not working. I have been shooting in manual for a couple months now. I am getting better at sharp images but I need to just send it in. My fear is my gear is not repairable and I won’t be buying new. I need to bite the bullet and just go back into the job market so I have “frivolous” funds. At my age not an easy task.
Thank you, April. For me photo gear isn’t frivolous. The basics needed to sustain (my) life are food, water, shelter and properly working photo gear… 🙂
That first photo is wonderful, Ron, for all the reasons people have said. How nice that someone generously pointed it out to you.
Thank you, Nancy. For what you said here, and elsewhere… 🙂
Surprisingly lovely photos, Ron. Knowing rail’s muted coloring I wasn’t prepared for the beauty you captured. The warm lighting, wing stretch and plumage coloration, especially the blue gray around the face, combine to make very pleasing photos. You’ve given me a new appreciation for rails. Thanks!
Thanks, Julie. They’re attractive little birds, that’s for sure.
Ron,
Nice shots of a pretty bird. I would love to see one. I remember the last time you posted one. I will have to keep my eyes open at FB.
I thought you were talking about a dance at first when I read the title but I guess that is the “Virginia Reel.” And that looks nothing like this bird! I think we had to dance it in grade school … Argh!
Good luck with the camera. I dropped my the other day in the dark doing Milky Way shots. Hopefully it will be fixed soon.
Best,
Stephen
Ha, I had to do that dance in grade school too, Stephen. Not a particularly pleasant memory for me.
And I wish you the same good luck with your camera.
Subtly beautiful bird– never seen one before– thanks for this glimpse and
surely wish you the best on the repair.
Thanks on both counts, Kris.
Beautiful bird that, it appears, we don’t have here…… 🙂 Definitely “blends into the woodwork” so to speak! Love the rich colors and the “laced” feathers on part of the belly.
DAMN on camera/lens/teleconverter issue! 🙁 No, certainly don’t want to have to send it in for diagnosis/repair right now.
Thanks, Judy. The Cornell range map for this species appears to include the Great Falls area but it’s in a narrow band that goes across only part of MT.