Hey Everett Tweeters;

My husband and I found this list looking for someone to knock us upside the
head and tell what we really saw. The closest thing I can think of that I
might mistake for a Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicenis) would be a non
breeding starling. I am sure that this bird was not a starling.



Where: Everett, Washington at the 10th street boat launch. We were sitting
at the NW edge of the parking lot glassing the area.



When: November 5, 2005, late in the afternoon. High tide.



Description: My husband spotted two unknown birds sitting high on a pier
just north of the handicap dock. They stayed put long enough to let me focus
in on them before dropping to a raft of logs on the flats north of the
parking lot. We lost sight of one of the pair but were able to get a very
good look at the other. It was a small black bird with a black speckled back
and rust colored shoulders. The breast was a solid charcoal color. The tail
was almost chick like it was so short. My notes say nothing about eye color.



Black Rail's do not belong in Everett. Help me out here. What did I actually
see?



Thanks,

Deborah