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
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
Previous 3 posts in my LIFER Blog Series.
Reflections of the Natural World 
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