Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) and chicks 7 April 2003 Petaluma Marshes, Sonoma County, California





Today we visited the Petaluma Marshes, California, where we were treated to an adult Virginia Rail herding a brood of four little chicks (3 visible at top). After being stalked by an American Bittern, all four Virginia Rail chicks escaped, swimming across the channel to safety. Today the bittern contented itself with minnows and tadpoles, but tomorrow is another day.

Nikon FS3 w/30xWA & Oly D550z handheld. Cropped, resized and PS adjusted.
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