Reflections of the Natural World

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Lifer 673 – Ruddy Crake

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Jim Gain

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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

Lifer bird @ El Cedral, Cozumel Island, MX

Ruddy Crake (Laterallus ruber) > Rallidae > Gruiformes

IDENTIFICATION: A small, elusive bird of freshwater marshes, damp fields, and roadside ditches; heard much more often than seen. Walks quietly and runs quickly, like all rails. Can be confiding if you wait patiently and quietly. Plumage distinctive, overall rich ruddy with slate gray head. Adult has ruby-red eyes, which are duller on immatures.

FIRST “LIFER” OBSERVATION:
Birding with: Miguel Amar Uribe from Mexico Kan Tours and my wife Maria
Date: 10 Dec 2021 @ San Miguel Water Treatment Plant, Cozumel Island, MX
Planta de Tratamiento de Aguas Residuales de San Miguel | MX-ROO

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

DETAILS ABOUT SIGHTING: As is typical with all rails, they are very secretive and usually heard long before they are seen. Although they can be easily coaxed out with a little call playback. When we arrived at the water treatment plant it was quite windy and therefore hard to hear bird calls. Fortunately after a half hour, the winds died down and the Ruddy Crakes spontaneously started calling. We only saw one briefly as it scooted through an opening in the marsh. Fortunately I was able to get some really good images on later trips.

PHOTOS TAKEN: No images were captured of the first crakes on Cozumel, but many were successfully photographed on subsequent birding expeditions. All images below are from near Río Lagartos, Yucatán, MX

Miguel Amar Uribe photographing the Ruddy Crake just south of Río Lagartos, Yucatán

Previous 3 posts in my LIFER Blog Series.

2 responses to “Lifer 673 – Ruddy Crake”

  1. Lifer 673 – Ruddy Crake – Reflections of the Pure World – AZHeadlines

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ABOUT THE SITE

With a primary focus on birds, each blog series has it’s own unique look at the wildlife and wild places encountered at different locations that I have visited around the world.

ABOUT ME

I earned my college degree in biology, a foundation that shaped not only how I see the world, but how I’ve spent my life sharing it with others. For more than 40 years, I taught and led in public education, helping students discover the wonder woven into every corner of the natural world. That same drive has carried me through decades of citizen science and conservation work. As an active member of the Modesto Camera Club, I’ve developed a photographic practice that blends natural history with visual artistry, and my award‑winning images have been featured across the Internet on dozens of sites and field‑oriented platforms. This blog brings together my passions for birding, conservation, and storytelling.

~ Jim Gain

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