ML169247001

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Initially heard calling from roadside just north of Gurnet point in what Google Maps calls the Saquish Marshes (which I refer to as Gurnet Marshes). [the exact location is 42.009871,-70.608505]. The photos show a large rail and #7980 shows a peekaboo look at the all gray head and neck. The plain crown suggests a juvenile. After checking the calls in Birds of America Online, I finally found one that matched what I heard (and again 7/19 and today 7/22) Oddly is is identified not as an "Atlantic", but as a "Gulf" bird. [https://birdsna.org/Species-Account/bna/species/clarai11/multimedia/audio and scroll down to: [ Calls (Gulf Coast) © Geoffrey A. Keller Macaulay Library ML73905]. Subsequently I have read that the chrrring sound at the end of the call is the female's call for all 3 rails. I suppose, if the photo is of a juvenile, and juveniles don't make that female call at this stage in their development, I could have encountered 2 individuals - and adult female and a juvenile. I will keep checking to see if I can clarify further. Overall, Clapper Rail is a new species for me on Duxbury Beach. eBird shows that Dan Furbish had 2 in 2003, and over the years some Saquish/Gurnet residents have asked me about the "marsh chickens" they've seen. But personally I've not encountered any rails out there until now.

Technical information

Original file size

721.29 KB