Black/Clapper Rail-BV Shearwater locations (1 Viewer)

D

dcw

Well-known member

• Feb 4, 2014

• #1

Hello all I was wondering good reliable locations in California for Black rail, Clapper rail and Black-vented Shearwater (land based seawatches or whale watching/ferry boats etc). Thank you very much. Dave..

 

wimvdam

Well-known member

• Feb 4, 2014

• #2

It's a big state. Where in California are you focussing on?

 

D

dcw

Well-known member

• Feb 5, 2014

• #3

I know that the black rail is best in san Francisco bay area so there for that bird and bv shearwater is best is socal tjhere for that bird. I can go where ever it is best for these 3 birds.

 

Hamhed

Well-known member

• Feb 5, 2014

• #4

We found our first Black Rail during a full moon high tide at the north end of Bolinas Lagoon, north of San Francisco, about halfway to Point Reyes.

Steve

 

NNJFB-Rob

Well-known member

• Feb 5, 2014

• #5

Clapper Rail - Newport Back Bay.
BV Shearwater - Any Whale watch boat I suspect will run across shearwaters.

 

wimvdam

Well-known member

• Feb 6, 2014

• #6

Between the beginning of September and half-way February Black-vented Shearwater is "Common to Abundant" in Southern California. There are known to get close to the coast so there is no need to get on a boat for them. eBird should help you find a proper sea watch location.

 

D

dcw

Well-known member

• Feb 7, 2014

• #7

Thanks to everyone on the responses so far. I've been to La Jolla 2 times in San Diego for a sea watch but only seen the birds way out on the horizon (un-tickable views even though I knew what they were). I'm interested in the rail as it will be split this year. When is the best time of year for the black rails? when they are calling in the spring? I've heard something about super tides in the winter would this be better? thanks again Dave.

 

LabradorDuck

Well-known member

• Feb 10, 2014

• #8

I have a related but more specific question. Are Black Rails still found in the Palo Alto Baylands? This area is often mentioned as a good spot for them, but on eBird there is only one sighting there in the past 10 years (compared to numerous sightings before then). I haven't been able to find any information saying that they have disappeared or anything, there's just no recent sightings on eBird and that seems odd to me.

 

NNJFB-Rob

Well-known member

• Feb 18, 2014

• #9

Black Rails are dang near impossible to find. Now we frown upon the chain dragging and charging round in their habitat to flush them, sightings are even rarer.

 

D

dcw

Well-known member

• Feb 20, 2014

• #10

I would be happy just hearing a Black Rail!! What time of year do they call on the west coast? I've heard of the rails being seen after being forced out on extra high tides in the SF Bay area but no idea where this location is.

 

rbroadwell

Well-known member

• Feb 21, 2014

• #11

The biggest tides "King Tides" were in the beginning of January, I tried for them in a town called Martinez and had no luck. Now that it's closer to spring they are starting to be heard there.