Lifer 652 – Ruddy Woodcreeper – Reflections of the Natural World

Over the past 40 years I have had the good fortune to photographically document 85% of the bird species added to my “Life List.” This blog series showcases the images and anecdotal accounts that document those “Lifer” sightings and a little about the environment and culture of the area. This Lifer blog series begins with my first LIFER outside of the US, Lifer #624 and proceeds chronologically forward from there.

A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain

Lifer Photo @ Zona Arqueológica Muyil, Quintana Roo, MX

Ruddy Woodcreeper (Dendrocincla homochroa) > Furnariidae > Passeriformes

IDENTIFICATION: Uncommon, medium-sized woodcreeper of humid tropical forest; rarely seen away from army ant swarms. Found singly or in twos and threes, often with Tawny-winged and Northern Barred Woodcreepers at army ant swarms. Mainly perches upright on slender trunks fairly low to the ground, less often at middle levels; often rather sluggish. Overall bright ruddy plumage in combination with behavior is distinctive; also note the pale grayish eyering. Usually rather quiet; at times gives plaintive mew calls and a chipping rattled song.

FIRST “LIFER” OBSERVATION:
Birding with: Miguel Amar Uribe from Mexico Kan Tours and my wife Maria
Date: 02 Dec 2021 @ Zona Arqueológica Muyil (Chunyaxché), Quintana Roo, MX
Zona Arqueológica Muyil (Chunyaxché) | MX-ROO

SPECIES GLOBAL eBIRD DISTRIBUTION MAP
Yellow Star indications the location of my Lifer sighting

DETAILS ABOUT SIGHTING: Highway 307, the main road from Tulum to Felipe Carrillo Puerto and eventually to Chetumal, runs right through the town of Chunyaxché and effectively separates the taller forerst habitat northwest of town from the ruins area with shorter vegetation and includes mangrove swamps. After strolling through the town side of the area, we headed east down the side road to see the lagoon. After birding the lagoon we returned through the mangrove swamp on an interesting boardwalk and then explored the ruins and park area back at the entrance. This circuit netted us 4 new Lifers, #649 to #652.

Muyil Ruins Lifer # 652 – Ruddy Woodcreeper

As we walked back from the lagoon along the at times rickety boardwalk, we had a Ruddy Woodcreeper land pretty close to us. It worked the trees near us briefly before flying off.

PHOTOS TAKEN: We were able to see and photograph well my “Lifer” Ruddy Woodcreeper. I saw it as well later in southern Quintana Roo, MX and at Pook’s Hill Lodge in Belize.

@ Zona Arqueológica Cobá, Quintana Roo, MX

BACKGROUND ABOUT THE MUYIL ARCHEOLOGICAL ZONE

Park-like setting on the trail from the entrance kiosk.

Muyil (also known as Chunyaxché) was one of the earliest and longest inhabited ancient Maya sites on the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. It is located approximately 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of the coastal site of Tulum, in the Municipality of Felipe Carrillo Puerto in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. The ruins of Muyil are an example of Peten architecture, like those found in southern Mayan sites with their steep walled pyramids such as Tikal in Guatemala. It is situated on the Sian Ka’an lagoon, a name meaning “Where the Sky is Born”. Muyil was located along a trade route on the Caribbean once accessible via a series of canals.