If you're a birder, you'll know what a life list is. It's basically a list of all the bird species one has observed and positively ID'd in one's lifetime. This blog is a record of my "critter" life list (mostly of birds), including photos I've taken over the years, some of the actual lifer if I was lucky enough to get the shot. Don't expect National Geographic quality stuff here, just the work of an amateur photog who loves to trudge out into nature.

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris)

The one and only time I'd ever seen a clapper rail was at Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve. Its call was distinctive, but this chicken-like marsh bird was incredibly skittish and fled the scene in a flashing blur like I was a hated paparazzo. 

4/13/02 Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve, Orange County, CA 

4/13/02 Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve, Orange County, CA

LIFE LIST NOTES:

COMMON NAME: Clapper Rail

SPECIES: Rallus longirostris

LIFE LIST DATE: 4/13/2002

LOCATION: Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve, Orange County, CA

From Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Western Region

IDENTIFYING MARKS: 14"; large rail with long slightly down-curved bill. Black feathers dark-centered with broad gray edges, giving back a grayish look. Breast color varies regionally from gray to reddish brown. 

VOICE: Harsh notes varying in speed, like chit chit chit, chit, chit----chit----chit.
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