Pic of the Day

Clapper Rail, Rallus longirostris: Bolivar Peninsula, Texas

     The Clapper Rail is found in salt water marshes from New Jersey to south Texas.  I found this very cooperative bird along the Bolivar Peninsula in late October a few years ago.  Rails are secretive birds, but this bird had come out of the reeds to feed along the waters edge during the receding tide. 

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/800 second @ f/7.1

Pic of the Day

White Water Lily, Nymphaea odorata:

Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge;  NW of High Island, Texas

     I spotted these White Water Lilies while driving through Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge searching for rails.  When I saw this composition I could not pass up the shot.  Anahuac is a wonderful refuge.  In April, it is possible to get six different rail species: Black, Yellow, Sora, Virgina, King, and Clapper (pictured here).

Clapper Rail, Railus longirostris: Bolivar Peninsula; near High Island, Texas

       For more information on the Anahuac Rail Walk, click on this URL; http://www.friendsofanahuacnwr.com/RailWalks

Top:  Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/2000 sec. @ f7.1

Bottom:  Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/1250 sec. @ f5.6

Pic of the Day

Clapper Rail, Railus longirostris: Bolivar Peninsula, Texas

     Back in November, I posted photos of Clapper Rails that I had photographed on the Bolivar Peninsula, Just east of Galveston, Texas.  I recently found this image in the lot.  I took this shot just as the rail had finished preening and then raised its feathers.   I love the look of the ruffled neck feathers and the slightly raised wings.


Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/800 second @ f7.1

Pic of the Day

Clapper Rail, Rallus longirostris

     Another of the many shots I took of Clapper Rails on the Bolivar Peninsula, Texas.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/1000 sec. @ f7.1

Pic of the Day

Clapper Rail, Rallus longrirostris; Bolivar Peninsula, Texas

Clapper Rail, Rallus longrirostris;  Feathers fluffed after preening

     Here are a couple of more shots of Clapper Rails from the Bolivar Peninsula.  The top shot is a capture of a rail as it walked into an open space between patches of reeds.  The bottom shot is the same bird from the October 26^th post.  It was taken as the rail fluffed its feather during a bout of preening.

Top Image:  Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, Exposure: 1/800 @ 7.1

Bottom Image:  Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, Exposure: 1/1600 @ f5.6

Pic of the Day

Clapper Rail, Rallus longirostris; Bolivar Peninsula, Texas

     Earlier this week I made a trip to the Bolivar Peninsula in Texas, to photograph shorebirds.  Houston Audubon has a shorebird sanctuary on the flats that host thousands of shorebirds.  In 2006, I spoke at the Houston Audubon’s, Galveston chapter.  While there, local birders took me birding on the flats.  I was astonished at the number of American Avocets feeding in the Gulf waters along the peninsula.  I decided then, that I would return in the near future and photograph the shorebirds.

     After 7 years, I finally made it back to the Bolivar peninsula.  Though I arrived at the same time of year, the thousands and thousands of Avocets I had looked forward to photographing were not there.  There were however, plenty of other birds to photograph.  I had a great time and got a lot of images that I will be posting over the next week or so.

     My “Lifer” for the trip, was a Clapper Rail that I found at the edge of a salt marsh. When I stopped to photograph the rail, it disappeared into the reeds; but after a few minutes of waiting, it walked back onto the open shoreline for this portrait.

     Other than Sora rails, I have seen very few rails.  Rails are not rare, but they are very secretive and shy, preferring to be heard and not seen.  I was just lucky to have seen this particular bird.  I was in the right place at the right time, but that is usually how it is with bird photography.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/1250 second @ f 5.6, ISO 400