Josh Hayes wrote:

>
> I've tried going to the likely areas and sitting or standing quietly for 15
> or 20 minutes; is that not long enough? Or does one just have to get lucky
> to see them?
>
I think it is luck. Many years ago I was at Plum Island (in
Massachusetts) walking the trail through the cattails and I saw
(together) a sora and a virginia rail. They stayed out in the open for
about five minutes and then disappeared again. I've only caught
(rarely) fleeting glimpses since, usually none at all. The key is
cosmic, I think, I really wasn't thinking about seeing a rail at the time.

Arthur Berman
North Vancouver, BC