potential YELLOW RAIL, Monte Vista NWR, Rio Grande County

Eric DeFonso

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Jul 12, 2022, 11:24:51 AM7/12/22

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Hi all,

This morning I had an audio encounter with what I'm pretty sure is a YELLOW RAIL, at the Monte Vista NWR between about 645-730 this morning. I made several sound recordings and shared them with Nathan Pieplow, who agrees that this sounds like the real deal.

I personally have no prior experience with this species but the ticking sounds in the recordings I made are just like those that I've listened to over the years in a number of commercial collections showcasing them.

Below is the exact lat/lon where I was when I first encountered the bird. It was amidst the thick bulrushes initially, probably only 5-10 yards away. From that point it slowly made its way westward and southward deeper into the marsh. When I left the area around 730 it was still audible, but becoming fainter. My guess (or hope) is that it was "doing the rounds" so may come back around to the parking area where I first detected it at some point.

(37.487640, -106.136866)

Nathan suggests that a crepuscular or nocturnal visit to the refuge may be more successful in detecting the species in general, although as I mentioned I heard it in the 7am timeframe. Lots of other marsh birds in the area of course making listening a little challenging, like Marsh Wrens, Wilson's Snipes, American Coots, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Common Yellowthroats. Also Sora and Virginia Rails calling occasionally.

I know of only one previous record for this species in Colorado, from July 1906 at Barr Lake. I don't know if that was a specimen or not.

I will be in the Monte Vista area a few more hours before I have to leave. Feel free to contact me for more info, but hopefully this message helps.

Good birding,

Eric

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Eric DeFonso
near Lyons, Boulder County, CO

David Tønnessen

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Jul 12, 2022, 3:03:35 PM7/12/22

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Extremely exciting news, Eric. I imagine that area is exactly the place for the species to potentially breed in the state (hey, they have exclaves in Oregon and sometimes California, so why not Colorado?)

Greetings,

David Tonnessen

mvjo...@gmail.com

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Jul 12, 2022, 4:38:32 PM7/12/22

to Colorado Birds

Will be headed there this evening. Stay tuned.

John Rawinski

Monte Vista CO

mvjo...@gmail.com

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Jul 13, 2022, 9:34:08 AM7/13/22

to Colorado Birds

Went out last night and the bird calling was consistent with the recordings from Cornell that were played earlier but not at the site. And please no playbacks at the site when you visit. I had to remind some of that. FANTASTIC FIND!