Monday 21 August 2017

New species for Casa da Ayre - Buff-banded rail

Something caught my eye in our backyard this morning - it was through the drapes and it wasn't a clear sighting, but it instantly caught my attention.  It looked like a small swamp-hen, but it clearly wasn't - the colour was all wrong.  

I opened the drapes and at ten metres range, watched a Buff-banded rail foraging across the backyard for about thirty seconds.  I left to grab my camera and of course it was gone when I returned, so there is no photographic evidence.  But I had a very clear view and 100% confident in my identification.  Hopefully I'll get a photo in the near future.