Tuesday 9 June 2015

Clapper Rails and Least Terns!

I finally have some proof that I actually capture Clapper Rails:

Barring in the flanks and underwing
Wing coverts, with some distinct patterning in the 3rd alula 
Unusual bars in the greater coverts
Eamon holding a Clapper Rail!
Clapper Rail nest.  They really have beautiful eggs! This nest held a "typical" 9 eggs
Antenna and receiver tower for tracking the rails
Clapper rail with a radio transmitter backpack. You can faintly see the antenna projecting from the tail and the transmitter in the middle of the back.
Least tern eggs. You can see a water drop on the right egg. This is because adults will "splash" their brood patch by skimming across the water and use the wet brood patch to help cool the eggs.
Least tern chicks



The least tern chicks and clapper rail nest photos have extra vegetation obscuring some of the photo because we try to avoid creating disturbance and stress as much as possible.