Abingdon Rail

2019-09-30Sherry Felix

Yesterday afternoon on the way home Marc noticed a Tweet announcing a Virginia Rail at Abingdon Square Park, which is a rare occurrence for a very small park. It was a life bird for me. There was about a dozen other birders there, most of whom I know. We had cameras and binoculars, which amused the locals. The Virginia Rail seemed quite comfortable. It was feeding on dozens of worms and dodging around the legs of the people sitting on the benches.

Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola), Abingdon Square 9/29/2019
Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola), Abingdon Square 9/29/2019
Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola), Abingdon Square 9/29/2019
Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola), Abingdon Square 9/29/2019
Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola), Abingdon Square 9/29/2019
Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola), Abingdon Square 9/29/2019
Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola), Abingdon Square 9/29/2019
Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola), Abingdon Square 9/29/2019
Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola), Abingdon Square 9/29/2019
Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola), Abingdon Square 9/29/2019

CFF 2019-09-30 / 2:58 pm

Thank you Sherry for sharing these amazing images and for the explanation of the remarkable interest. Count us in as we were a few of the amused locals. We initially thought there was a remnant model shot from the just ended Fashion Week (the camera equipment was very advanced looking to us locals) but the birders and photographers were incredibly fixated on one identifiable spot. The birders were kind enough to advise us as to what was going on and everyone was very well behaved and this cute visitor was incredibly chilled.
The West Village is on everyone’s “must visit” list.

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- Sherry Felix 2019-09-30 / 3:09 pm
  
  LOL. Very funny. Thanks Carl.
  
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Joanne Sisco 2019-09-30 / 9:02 am

Wow – these photos are quite amazing … especially the ones of her pulling the worm from the ground!!

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- Sherry Felix 2019-09-30 / 2:38 pm
  
  Thanks. The rail is still there. A village eccentric with a dog and guitar has appointed himself guardian. He claims we were harassing it. Not so, it was calmly eating. Today it is hanging out on the lawn looking for more worms.
  
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