I saw a Sora

Yesterday, 26 June 2017, our temperature reached 29C, which is too hot for me. The inside of my place was uncomfortably warm, so I knew I just had to go for a short drive to get some air-conditioning.

My usual drive SW of the city was a bit disappointing, as the few Mountain Bluebirds I did see were only distant. I was beginning to think that the babies must have already fledged from the one nest box. However, the Wilson's Snipe were doing their usual thing, perching on top of fence posts. Not that I need any more Snipe photos : ) While I was photographing them, I noticed a small bird down on the road, way in the distance. Driving very slowly, as I got closer, I realized it was a Sora. For a second or two, it ran down the road alongside my car, until I completely stopped. Just managed to get a couple of shots before it vanished from sight. I always forget how small these birds are.

"A small, secretive bird of freshwater marshes, the Sora is the most common and widely distributed rail in North America. Its distinctive descending whinny call can be easily heard from the depths of the cattails, but actually seeing the little marsh-walker is much more difficult." From AllAboutBirds.

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sora/id