Chronicles of a Birders Life Record
Over the previous 40 years I’ve had the nice fortune to photographically doc 85% of the fowl species added to my “Life Record.” This weblog sequence showcases the pictures and anecdotal accounts that doc these “Lifer” sightings and a bit of in regards to the surroundings and tradition of the realm. This Lifer weblog sequence begins with the primary LIFER outdoors of the US, Lifer #624 and proceeds chronologically ahead from there.
A Reflections of the Pure World Weblog Submit Sequence by Jim Acquire
Black Catbird (Laterallus ruber) > Rallidae > Gruiformes
IDENTIFICATION: Slender-billed, shiny black fowl of humid forest, woodland, thickets, and overgrown clearings; form and habits like Grey Catbird of North America. Widespread on Cozumel Island, however typically unusual to uncommon on the Yucatan mainland. Typically sings from a distinguished perch, however in any other case fairly retiring and simply neglected, primarily at low ranges in bushes; additionally hops on the bottom, flipping and fanning its tail. Informed from different black songbirds in its geographic vary by habits and slender invoice.
CONSERVATION STATUS WARNING: The IUCN considers Black Catbird to be within the Close to Threatened Purple Record Class. Even though the inhabitants pattern seems to be reducing, the decline just isn’t believed to be sufficiently fast to method the thresholds for Susceptible underneath the inhabitants pattern criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations).
FIRST “LIFER” OBSERVATION:
Birding with: Miguel Amar Uribe from Mexico Kan Excursions and my spouse Maria
Date: 10 Dec 2021 @ San Miguel Water Therapy Plant, Cozumel Island, MX
Planta de Tratamiento de Aguas Residuales de San Miguel | MX-ROO
SPECIES GLOBAL eBIRD DISTRIBUTION MAP
Yellow Star indications the situation of my Lifer sighting
DETAILS ABOUT SIGHTING: As is typical with all rails, they’re very secretive and often heard lengthy earlier than they’re seen. Though they are often simply coaxed out with a bit of name playback. After we arrived on the water therapy plant it was fairly windy and due to this fact exhausting to listen to fowl calls. Fortuitously after a half hour, the winds died down and the Ruddy Crakes spontaneously began calling. We solely noticed one briefly because it scooted via a gap within the marsh. Fortuitously I used to be capable of get some actually good pictures on later journeys.
PHOTOS TAKEN: No pictures had been captured of the primary crakes on Cozumel, however many had been efficiently photographed on subsequent birding expeditions. All pictures under are from close to Río Lagartos, Yucatán, MX
Earlier 3 posts in my LIFER Weblog Sequence.
