The first sighting of an Amazon Kingfisher in North America occured in 2010 in Laredo, Texas. A second one appeared a couple of years ago nearby and now a third (female) has been frequenting the Rio Grande this Winter near Laredo. This bird has earned its “code 5” (i.e. very rare) status. You may recall that Code 6’s are extinct!
It has been ten months since I added a new bird to my North American life-list, so chasing this special beauty over MLK Holiday weekend was the perfect antidote for my nature-deficit syndrome. Only nine hours spanned waking up in Manayunk and joining a fellow (who drove all night from Wyoming) bird enthusiast on the banks of the Rio Grande.
The bird was stationed exactly where the rare bird reports indicated. The problem was….. it was comfortably positioned on the Mexico side of the river and birds spotted in Mexico cannot count towards one’s North American list.
Amazon Kingfisher is technically in Mexico
Amazon Kingfisher (code 5!)….still in Mexico
Silly, I know…but the brag card among most birders is one’s North American life list. Of course, it was a new bird for my WORLD list and that number should be the true benchmark for who really rates in the birding-world-pecking-order.
Anyway, birders are an honest bunch and we follow the rules of the game. So we waited. A couple of hours. Just talking and sharing highlights of our birding obsession…all the while watching the kingfisher nab little fish from the two perches in the photographs. Why would this bird emigrate to the USA when the fishing was so productive in Mexico?
Thankfully the answer was a pesky Green Kingfisher. It startled its much bigger cousin and both flew over to our side and perched on a piling. Now I could count the Amazon – #710 – and contemplate my next move.
Amazon Kingfisher officially in the USA
Well, I am writing this blog from my Super 8 hotel room in Willcox, Arizona. A long but satisfying day. Philly to Dallas to Laredo to Dallas to Tucson to here. Thank you frequent flier miles. Currently southern Arizona is hosting three species that I’ve never seen. Stay tuned…..
birdtalesblog 
Great bird, George! I don’t get the quibbling because Mexico is officially part on North America. Canada, Mexico and the USA!
Not sure my earlier reply was posted. Hi Bob, thanks and you are correct! I should have written “ABA Area” but old-time birders like me still slang it and say “North American life-list”. Either way, birds in Mexico don’t count on the list that most birders tout. BUT…one’s WORLD LIST is the TRUE measure of one’s commitment. My World list is pretty dinky (1500 out of roughly 10,000). Nice to hear from you!
Congrats, George!!!
Thanks Arlin!
Outstanding effort and great results,G! Thanks for sharing
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Is that you Poke? Thks…adrenaline rush.
Way to go GCW’75!!
Satisfying!
How exciting! Your enthusiasm is inspiring.
Thanks Deborah…hope to see you next month!
G Nice get. Patience is a virtue. Maguire
From: birdtalesblog To: hmaguire3@yahoo.com Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2017 12:06 AM Subject: [New post] AMAZON KINGFISHER! (Dual Nationality) #yiv7134320192 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv7134320192 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv7134320192 a.yiv7134320192primaryactionlink:link, #yiv7134320192 a.yiv7134320192primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv7134320192 a.yiv7134320192primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv7134320192 a.yiv7134320192primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv7134320192 WordPress.com | George C. Wood posted: “The first sighting of an Amazon Kingfisher in North America occured in 2010 in Laredo, Texas. A second one appeared a couple of years ago nearby and now a third (female) has been frequenting the Rio Grande this Winter near Laredo. This bird has earned its” | |
Cheers Captain
Go GCW! Pecking order – heh, heh
Whirlwind wkd….
George, Congratulations! And thanks for sharing your adventures with us! A real treat. A beautiful bird! Rock
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Hiya Rock-star!
Industrious George strikes again!
Congrats and best of birding in your
“Quest for 800” ( time for a blog name change?)!
KB
Good point. I’d be thrilled with “750” on the epitaph:)
Nice sighting! Jeff
I was booked on a plane to SF at midnight. Then I read the news. A peregrine killed our Mega-rarity. That’s nature. Flying home now.
Congratulations Georgie! That’s a great story.
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Cheers Linc!
Can you carry an inflatable and a paddle to scare it over? Is that cricket? >
Scaring any bird not acceptable. Didn’t you teach me that? XXX
How wide is the Rio Grande? Does the official border run down the middle of the river, so that a bird more than halfway across is considered to be in the closest territory?
The river is about 300 yards wide at this location. And I was told that “halfway across” or even 3/4’s isn’t good enough to count. Good question…I need to research:)
I didn’t think you could stay down for long. Keep on keepin’ on, George.
Cheers Mace. As is….
George I’ve been thinking of you lately. I have two separate groups going up to get their lifer Mountain Quail and then back down for Ridgeway Rail, etc.,etc. I enjoyed birding with you.
On Friday – ALL BY PURE LUCK HAD A BIRDER OUT and a Ross’s Gull was in the area !
Found the lifer by 8:30AM ! Today reports are the Ross’s Gull was taken by a PEREGRINE
Falcon as birders watched. Stay in touch and I’m here when you need me. Oh I have two seats open on my June 4th Nome Alaska trip, one gal is a photographer – want’a join us?
Hi Rich, I was booked on a flight to SF last night…then I recvd the sad news. I would enjoy birding with you again. Very fond memories of that Mt. Quail. Be well. George
Very cool George! Mike
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Thanks Mike! And I have more….
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Patience paid off for the Amazon kingfisher, apparently, but the delay killed (literally) your gull opportunity! What a trip, and how exciting for you to be in the hunt like that!!
Such a long trip in a long weekend, but sounds cool and they look great!
Thanks Xinyi. Where are you these days? I hope you are well.
I am good, thanks. I found a job near Philly and living in Wayne now. Actually I just went to Texas during Christmas for vacation and trip.
Good for you. No longer a student! Wayne is a great town.
This is Josh Waldbaum’s mom. Love your blog about birding and the adventures you have had. I kept a backyard bird count for Cornell Lab of Ornithology. But by no means am I a”birder”.
HI Mrs. Waldbaum! Thanks for corresponding. First, I absolutely enjoyed re-connecting with Josh after 41 years. What a spot! Second, YOU are a birder…..since you participate in the Cornell program. I was a teenager and participated in the initial Backyard Bird Count. Anyhow…fun to hear from you. regards, George