From: Penny Koyama
To: Tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Monday, February 01, 2010 2:39 PM
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Re Laredo Kingfisher and TX rarities


Larry and Tweeters,
David and I just returned from TX, flying into Austin and heading for Laredo (pre-kingfisher) working our way East through the Lower Rio Grande Valley. We heard of the Amazon Kingfisher from another birder at the Jacana site, but were heading for Beeville and the Northern Wheatear and didn't have the heart (or guts?) to drive all the way back to Laredo one day prior to departure for home. And we wanted dinner on San Antonio's Riverwalk! For those thinking of going, the two birds just mentioned seem to be sitting pretty tight and are about 40 minutes apart from each other, though well north of the Valley.

An added benefit of the wheatear was encountering the Amish, as the bird is on a farm that is one of 10 in the area settled by the Amish a decade ago. We went over to the Borntrager Store (in a barn where their main business is horseshoes and tackle) and bought peanut brittle--absolutely the best ever--honey, and bar soap. If you are heading that way, Friday is baking day--If only we'd known!!

We spent parts of 2 days getting the seedeater in a loathsome area, which had not too much else to offer (Zapata, in the reeds of the pond across from the library) and had long looks at the gorgeous male Rose-throated Becard at Bentsen. We missed a few birds--decided not to use hours sitting in the raptor tower waiting for a Hook-billed Kite, and were 2 of 25 who didn't see the tiger heron on an early evening stake-out. We got our own Great Black-backed Gull at So. Padre Island, though.

There are birders everywhere down there and much has changed in the decade since our last visit, what with the development of their World Birding Centers, which range from So Padre Is. to Roma. Other birders and the local volunteers were most helpful. Our week of weather was perfect, though it was bracketed by nasty cold fronts. So. Larry, I think you should give up on restraint and head for TX!
Penny Koyama, Bothell
plkoyama at verizon.net

----- Original Message -----
From: Larry Schwitters
To: Tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Sunday, January 31, 2010 6:09 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] Re Laredo Kingfisher


Tweeters,

My brother said some guy in a suit was handing out bottled water to the gathering of Kingfisher seekers in Laredo 3 days ago. The town has been working on developing itself into a birding destination. Its also one of only three reliable locations in the USA where you might bag that odd little Seedeater. This Kingfisher has perhaps been in Laredo for a while and might just wait until you get around to it.

The first ABA area Tiger Heron might also still be found 150 miles down river, and Texas has had an ongoing Jacana and Northern Wheatear.

If you can make it to Las Vegas you might be able to snag a $70 Allegiant Air non stop to Laredo.

I've been showing remarkable restraint. Bring me back some boots and a hat.

Larry Schwitters

Issaquah