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Subject:

The Clapper Rail Story - Fort Smallwood, 4/18

From:

Bill Hubick

Reply-To:

Bill Hubick

Date:

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 05:39:11 -0700

Hi Everyone,

I decided that this was too cool a story to not post. As Sue reported, the Fort Smallwood Park hawk-watch observed the park's second record of CLAPPER RAIL on Sunday, 4/18. I was lucky enough to have wandered over there at the right time. 

As we enjoyed a steady raptor flight, I heard someone behind me say quietly, "What kind of bird is this?" I assumed it was a passer-by flipping his friend the bird, enjoying his creativity at inventing a new pun. It turns out that this was a terribly incorrect assumption. Moments later, someone turned around and gasped, and behind us on the asphalt was a large gray rail. The rest of us turned and gasped. 

Visiting birder Nazim had been viewing the scrubby vegetation on the beach and had flushed this locally rare migrant. Who knows how long it had been hunkered down less than 30 feet from seven or eight birders. After completing our collective gasp, I lost 0.5637 seconds choosing between camera and binoculars. As I swiveled Big Lens on the rail, it had walked to the chain link fence and stuck its head through one of the standard, diamond-shaped holes. It was going to get stuck! I was going to get neat photos of a Clapper Rail trying to get through the fence, and then maybe walking around in the open! Another incorrect assumption. To everyone's disbelief, its body compressed effortlessly and it passed through. Clapper Rails can walk through chain link fences. Amazing. (Great find, Nazim!)

We spent a lot of time carefully, quietly scanning the pond edge, as well as doing a bit of playback. Apparently the bird was less interested in seeing more of us than we were in seeing more of it. 

Yet another example of how many birds slip easily, quietly past us every time we go birding. Yet another example of why migration rocks.

Good birding,

Bill

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com