Bill, 

   Actually this is the third Clapper Rail record for the park. The first was April 27, 1986 when one flew into the fence and the second was April 21, 2001. With April 18, 2010 to add to the list I believe we know the peak of Clapper Rail migration through the park. In addition there are arrival dates at Sandy Point of April 23, 1974 and April 18, 1975 of birds that remained into May. Digging a little more, there are records at Gibson Island of April 15, 1957 and March 27-28, 1961. Considering the fence encounters p erhaps the 2010 bird is descended from the 1986 bird. 

Bob Ringler 
Eldersburg MD 
 



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Hubick" <> 
To:  
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 8:39:11 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: [MDOSPREY] The Clapper Rail Story - Fort Smallwood, 4/18 

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