We headed to the Atlantic coast of Maryland and Delaware for a quiet New Year. On New Year’s Eve, we visited the Ocean City Inlet and points south. One of my favorite locations is Truitt’s Landing, on Sinepuxent Bay south of Snow Hill, MD. First, we found a small group of Rusty Blackbirds (above) in the moist woods bordering the marsh. Then, patience in the mostly frozen marsh itself paid off with decent views of a King Rail:
A poor photo, but note the lack of gray on the ear coverts and the strongly marked mantle and back, distinguishing it from Virginia Rail and Clapper Rail, respectively. For comparison, here’s an image of a Virginia Rail from the same location earlier this year:
Though we didn’t see two together, I’m pretty sure we heard two calling quietly to each other. Doubtless the lack of open water worked to our advantage, forcing these otherwise secretive birds into the open in the few places where holes in the ice persisted.
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