VIRGINIA RAIL, CRANBERRY MARSH, LYNDE SHORES CONSERVATION AREA, WHITBY, ON

   Even though this photo was taken at a great distance and then enlarged, thus being grainy and the colors not showing very good, we can still ID this bird as a Virginia Rail as follows:

• Long, slender, curved bill.
• Generally rufous color, except for the head and lower belly.
• Short, upturned tail.
• Habitat: marsh ( Cranberry Marsh).
• Gray face.
• Black & white stripes at lower belly.

   The Virginia Rail is a new species to our Life List, which now stands at 308.