Chronicles of a Birders Life List
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 the 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
Olivaceous Woodcreeper (Sittasomus griseicapillus) > Furnariidae > Passeriformes
IDENTIFICATION: A small, unstreaked woodcreeper of tropical and subtropical humid forest. Fairly common but unobtrusive. Moves quickly up trunks, often flying to low on the next tree and circling up again. Distinguished from other woodcreepers by small size, small slender bill, and plain gray head and underparts (no pale streaks or spots).
FIRST “LIFER” OBSERVATION:
Birding with: My wife Maria
Date: 06 Dec 2021 @ Cobá Archeological Ruins, Quintana Roo, MX
Zona Arqueológica Cobá | MX-ROO
SPECIES GLOBAL eBIRD DISTRIBUTION MAP
Yellow Star indications the location of my Lifer sighting
DETAILS ABOUT SIGHTING: In Cobá, Maria and I were walking along the trail to the Grupo Nohoch Mul ruins absolutely enjoying the shade and nice road. My attention was grabbed by a small flock of Yucatan Jays that seemed to be mobbing something. And then I noticed at first one woodcreeper and then more. Suddenly we were surrounded by lots of birds flying back and forth to the ground and back up to the trees. Then I noticed the SWARM! A huge swarm of Army Ants was making its was along the side of the road. I discovered 5 LIFER bird species working around this ant swarm.
3rd Cobá Ant Swarm Lifer
Lifer #665 Olivaceous Woodcreeper. Right after recording the Lifer Northern Barred-Woodcreeper, a Ruddy Woodcreeper (non-lifer) came in to the fray soon followed by two Tawny-winged Woodcreepers and a single Olivaceous Woodcreeper. I also saw other Olivaceous Woodcreepers at Camino Faro Vigía Chico, Las Margaritas, Campeche, near the Calakmul Archeological Ruins, and at Tikal in Guatemala.
PHOTOS TAKEN:
All images below are tagged with their locations.
Previous 3 posts in my LIFER Blog Series.
Reflections of the Natural World 
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