sora

Another elusive bird that doesn't like to appear in the open

so not quite a lifer, but almost. I saw one a few years back in Yellowstone. And now ... I'm running late here this morning. Gotta get a move on. Will do my browsing this evening.

Sora (Porzana carolina) Sexes similar.

Sora (Porzana carolina) Sexes similar.

Sora (Porzana carolina) Sexes similar. Lafittes Cove Nature Preserve situated in Lafittes Cove Subdivision, southwest of Galveston, Galveston County, Texas, USA. Secondary coastal thicket with man-made ponds and small patches of remnant coastal prairie on a barrier Island at 1 m (3.3 ft) elevation.

I did get one lovely shot of this lifer. Was trying for another while walking back to impatient husband at the car. Was much further away at this point, but the Sora noticed me and took off. Kind of a fun shot nevertheless, so making this my Saturday Fun shot for this week. Almost done with the...

We were looking for a trail our B&B host had recommended, but stopped a bit too late. Still, it was a promising wetland, so I took a few minutes to scan the meanders near the pullout while husband photographed the views. Among some mallards some distance down the stream, I saw something...

Sora (Porzana carolina) Sexes similar. Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Coastal marshes and prairies at 2-3 m (6-10 ft) elevation. April 2016.

A Sora making a brief foray out of the dense vegetation at Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, Florida.

This is where I spotted the Sora, the image I posted last week was when it crossed the open water.

I finally saw this bird for the first time. South of Naples, along the Marsh Trail.

Sora (Porzana carolina) Sexes similar. Anauhac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island abutting East Bay, Chambers County, Texas, USA. Coastal marshes and prairies at 2-3 m (6-10 ft) elevation.

My first photo of one

I hadn't been to the farm recently, so I decided the make a quick run over while the rain had abated. My lucky day! ( more like my lucky five minutes ) Both Rail and Sora were seen at the pond and I managed to get some shots of both through the reeds. At one point I had both in the same frame...

Another lifer for me. I could hear him talking in the reeds and he finally showed himself for a brief moment so I managed to get a few images. Cool's Pond give me another beauty this year. Lucky me.

Captured this Sora (rail family) out for a walk in Horicon Marsh NWR.

The usuallly shy sora had been seen more often lately and I managed to catch this one foraging in the open.

Sora (Porzana carolina) Photographed along the margins of the City of Bryans municipal lake in Astin Recreation Area, Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, USA. Lakeside marsh, lake margins dominated by cat-tail and giant bulrush at 94 m (308 ft) elevation. Post Oak Savannah Vegetational Area.

The story is better than the photo. Ive made it no secret Im not much of a birder so I didnt think much about it when my wildlife biologist wife told me theres been a report of a sora and to grab my camera and get moving. Of course she didnt finish the sentence with "and put on your waterproof...

Sora (Porzana carolina) Sexes similar. Photographed in Ingleside, San Patricio County, Texas, USA. Live stock pond in the Gulf Prairies and Marshes Vegetational Area in an urban setting at 4 m (13 ft) elevation.

Adult Porzana carolina at Lake Murray, San Diego, CA, 09-26-11, Canon EOS 7D 400/f5.6L. http://www.picturetrail.com/marysan

Sora (Porzana carolina) Photographed at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of High Island, Chambers County, Texas. Part of the Gulf Prairie and Marshes Vegetational Area with several lakes lined with marshes at 1.5-2.5 m (4.9-8.0 ft) elevation. Photographed at the edge of Shoveler Pond...