1st Round

2nd Round

15 December 2009
Weisse – Reject, specific identification not established

Considering the date and the fact that juvenile Sora has white secondary patches I feel the description does not rule out that possibility.  In addition the habitat seems wrong for Yellow Rail despite the presence of sedges.  Specifically the proximity to open water doesn’t fit with what I’ve read about Yellow Rail breeding habitat, or with the location where I heard the one territorial Yellow Rail I have experience with, and suggests Sora to me.

1 February 2010
Cliff Weisse--Reject, specific identification not established

Same comments

12-17-2009
Dave Trochlell--Reject, specific identification not established

This was not an easy decision for me, but I decided to reject the record.

Mainly, I was bothered by the observer's description of the bird as being "grayish-brown (more grayish)". That isn't at all my impression of the species' color, although I've only seen about six YERAs in flight and held one in my hands. To me, Yellow Rails have warm, mottled buff-brown colors with no indications of gray tones.

Furthermore, I wondered if the observer actually saw a Sora and mistook that species' pale trailing edge for the much more prominant white secondaries of a Yellow Rail.

02-12-2010
Dave Trochlell--Reject, specific identification not established

I will reject this one again for the reason stated in the first round.

12-20-2009
Sturts--Reject, specific identification not established

In 1996 I voted to accept this record but I'm changing my mind. The white wing patch of the trailing edge is a good field mark but the five second observation time without binoculars and the color description of the body bothers me.

02-27-2010
Sturts--Reject, specific identification not established

I'm staying with my first round vote for the same reasons.

12-27-2009
Darren Clark--Accept

Although this would be the first record of Yellow Rail for Idaho, the description is perfect, the habitat is perfect, and there has since been another multiple observer record (also to be voted on). Yellow Rail has been located in other bordering states with similar habitat.

03-09-2010
Darren Clark--Reject, specific identification not established

I agree with Dave that the overall gray color bothered me. I didn't really consider the white secondary patches of Sora. Those two factors are leading me to change my vote to reject. I do think the observer could have seen a Yellow Rail though. I'm sure there are places in Idaho where they show up occasionally.

12-27-2009
Chuck Trost--Reject, specific identification not established

I've changed my mind on this sighting. Even though I know Raymond was a keen observer, the observation was very brief, and I could not re-find the bird,

2-10-2010
chuck trost--Reject, specific identification not established

I think it may have been a young sora.

21 December 2009
Hardy--Reject, specific identification not established

I don't think the description in this report eliminates other possibilities. For example, the description could fit an American Coot.

3 February 2010
Hardy--Reject, specific identification not established

Same comments as previous.

1-31-10
Carlisle--Accept

Habitat sounds good, white wing patches diagnostic.

2-25-10
Carlisle--Accept

I remain convinced ... June 23 would seem a little early for free-flying juvenile Soras and the observer seemed to see very obvious wing patches