ML645549028

Observation details

Incredible experience, good looks, bad pics. First Dallas county record in eBird, found earlier in the day running around the deck area after crazy winds the day before. With express permission of TRAC staff and accompanied by Jake Poinsett we jumped the fence and looked underneath the deck where the immature Yellow Rail was crouching in the darkest corner it could find, hiding behind a clod of dirt. It was absolutely tiny, with a small pointed dusky bill with paler base, mostly dark brown with some paler buff/yellow mottling below and pale buff-yellow streaks on upperparts with very delicate thin distinct transverse white bars all over the body, mostly visible on the upperparts for us but also present on the flanks and head. I think these are just pale tips to all the body feathers. It was so tiny - about the size of a coke can, maybe a little bigger. Thanks to TRAC and Jake especially for the invitation to see this amazing rarity. Dallas Co 306 for me, lifer for Nick!