[EBB Sightings] Virginia Rails at Coyote Hills

This evening, I stopped at Coyote Hills Regional Park on my way home from work. After heavy rain all day, the rain stopped around 5:00 PM. There was only one car in the entire park besides mine, and the Alameda Creek Ponding Area was beginning to flood due to the heavy rain. This is my favorite time of the year at Coyote Hills, as the abundant hawks, Herons, and Egrets are working the edges of the marsh as the water rises. You can watch it rise and cover the cracked mud on the bottom of the ponds along the entrance road. There ware at least two, and possibly three exposed VIRGINIA RAILS actively feeding along the road where the main creek crosses just past the entry kiosk, near the curve in the road. 
  Other notable birds this evening were a SAY'S PHOEBE, WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, MARSH WREN, & COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. There were also several WILSON'S SNIPE in the ponding area and flying around the marsh, along with the usual shorebirds. 

George Chrisman
Burlingame, CA