I found out about the bird about an hour before work, so I was unable to go and probably wouldn't have made it to the spot before dark if I could have. I also had a doctor's appointment in late morning on Wednesday, so I was pondering whether to go and get there before light, having only about an hour-and-a-half before I would have to leave for the appointment, or go right after I got back from the doctor. I decided to go afterwards and called a few friends to see if they were interested in going along. As it turned out, Stephen Kloiber and Jon Mularczyk met me at the house just after noon and the three of us headed for Long Island.
At around 2:45, we parked in the Overlook Beach parking lot, walked back out to the parkway, and carefully crossed over to the median. We continued a little east to where about 15 birders were standing. There, we immediately spotted the Corn Crake feeding in the dry grass along a continuous line of shrubs. My first impression was that the bird was so plump that it reminded me more of a female quail than a rail.
We happily watched the bird slowly walk back and forth, feeding as it went, which included occasionally pulling some worms out of the ground. The bird was close enough to attain some fairly good photos of it while passing through some areas of shorter grass.
After getting great views of every angle of it, we eventually headed home, working our way back through the New York City traffic. Thanks to the Feustels for a surreal find. This is one bird that I never thought I'd see in the U.S. Even more surprising was that, with the Common Greenshank, I got to see two life birds within a couple hours of home in less than two weeks! It was my 750th "Lower 48" bird!
More photos of the bird can be found in my New York Adventures Album.
