Chronicles of a Birders Life Checklist
Over the previous 40 years I’ve had the great fortune to photographically doc 85% of the fowl species added to my “Life Checklist.” This weblog sequence showcases the pictures and anecdotal accounts that doc these “Lifer” sightings and a bit of concerning the setting and tradition of the realm. This Lifer weblog sequence begins with the primary LIFER exterior of the US, Lifer #624 and proceeds chronologically ahead from there.
A Reflections of the Pure World Weblog Publish Sequence by Jim Acquire
Yucatan Flycatcher (Myiarchus yucatanensis) > Tyrannidae > Passeriformes
IDENTIFICATION: Medium-size Myiarchus flycatcher of tropical woodland and edge within the Yucatan Peninsula. Discovered primarily at mid-upper ranges in bushes, and like all members of the genus feeds at fruiting bushes, particularly the widespread gumbo limbo. Similar to native populations of Dusky-capped Flycatcher, with boring pale wingbars and restricted rusty edging to the tail feathers. Finest recognized by voice. Most noticeable visible variations from Dusky-capped are a broad, paler grayish space across the eyes, and crisper and brighter whitish edging to the tertials.
FIRST “LIFER” OBSERVATION:
–Date First Noticed: 10 Jan 2022
–Location: El Tajo, Yucatán, MX
–EBird Hyperlink: Carrt. El Tajo, Yucatán, MX (21.395, -88.565) | MX-YUC
–Birding With: Miguel Amar Uribe, Claudio Gomez, and Santiago Contreras from Mexico Kan Excursions
SPECIES GLOBAL eBIRD DISTRIBUTION MAP
Yellow Star signifies the situation of my Lifer sighting
DETAILS ABOUT SIGHTING: We had stopped and walked alongside a facet highway when Claudio heard and identified my Lifer Yucatan Flycatcher.
PHOTOS TAKEN: All pictures are of the identical Lifer fowl we noticed whereas strolling down a facet dust lane.
ABOUT THE AREA: The northern areas of the State of Yucatan are composed of Yucatan Dry Forests the place the local weather is tropical subhumid with an extended dry season. The typical annual rainfall on this ecoregion doesn’t exceed 1,200 mm per 12 months. Dominant vegetative species within the central portion of the area embody wild tamarind and Jamaican dogwood bushes. They’re typically intermixed with different tree species similar to Spanish cedar, gumbo-limbo, dryer’s mulberry, and Spanish elm. Within the northern a part of the ecoregion, close to the coast, cacti turn out to be extra plentiful. The dry forests of Yucatán represent a novel island of vegetation within the Gulf of Mexico area. They’re remoted from different dry forests by the ocean and by an enormous extension of moist forests within the Maya area.
Miguel Amar Uribe, Claudio Lopez, Santiago Contreras and I spent the morning and early afternoon seeking a number of of the Yucatan specialty birds that may happen in these dry forests; similar to Yucatan Poorwill, Yucatan Wren, Yucatan Woodpecker, Yucatan Flycatcher, Yucatan Vireo, Mexican Sheartail, Yucatan Gnatcatcher and Orange Oriole. Over the course of the following 7 hours we’d discover 15 new “Lifers” for me.
Earlier 3 posts in my LIFER Weblog Sequence.
