[texbirds] Amazon Kingfisher NO 12 29 2013

From: Terry Fuller <terrywfuller@xxxxxxxxx>
To: TexBirds <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2013 17:42:25 -0600
I live just up the road from the Amazon Kingfisher spot and have repeatedly
stopped to check on the status of the bird scanning the three primary sites
where I had seen it repeatedly in November.  I am very familiar with this
individual and with the species in general.  I also saw the first US record
in Laredo TX.
I can report that this bird was easy and straight forward to observe as it
is a kingfisher and would perch up in snags at mid level rather than low
near the water level.  It would not be out of sight when seen and would
move about regularly.  It did not typically hang at one perch for long
periods but was often switching perches.  Sometimes it would be right out
in front on the dead snags out in the water. It would hover and dive in
typical kingfisher fashion.  I saw it hide once in a small cove on the
visible arm of the resaca on the SE side but that was brief and it kept
flying out anyway.  At times it did fly around the far bend of the east
resaca going east and the far bend of the west resaca going west where it
would be out of sight. It was a large bird so the difficulty locating the
Green Kingfisher yesterday was never a problem with the Amazon.  In the
past it had disappeared for up to a full day (even with a constant vigil of
observers) only to reappear.  It was gone the morning of the day of the
first cold front when it was 87 only to show up in the afternoon when the
temps plummeted to the 40's.  Like summer in the morning and winter
thereafter. These cold temperatures extended a good six hours driving into
Mexico so it is not like it could just fly across the border where it was
warm.  I was thinking there was little hope to see it when suddenly it
shows to the delight of the entrepid observers.

Observers I talked with reported seeing it fly over the road two times on
different days the second week in December.   However they described it as
rattling as it flew over   This bird was not very vocal though I did hear
it call about three times.  I would not describe this bird's call as a
rattle as the volume is low and the cadence much slower than the Belted
Kingfisher.

It is my feeling that this bird is no longer present.  I say this because I
think this is very likely and I feel for the people standing on the busy
road (though pleasant resaca vista) waiting for this bird to show.  One
never knows of course.  This is partly why I have stopped by periodically
as a social responsibility.  With the periodic views reported it is not
clear if it is being seen but just very irregularly now.  It has been
difficult to give a negative report due to this.

Given the effort that people are extending if there are pictures and
reports on the continued presence of this bird at the Cameron Co site they
need to be forwarded to document the continued observation of this
individual.

The late arriving observers have less connections to Texbirds and other
reporting venues so it is very possible that other data may be around and
may emerge.

The many observers were very courteous and though the numbers impacted the
grass the habitat was not markedly affected.  There were a few trails to
the waters edge that bothered me a little.  This was put in perspective
when the power line tree trimming crew came through the area and cleared
all the power lines of trees.   Much more impact than some matted grass.



-- 
Terry W Fuller
San Benito/Harlingen
Terrywfuller@xxxxxxxxx


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[texbirds] Amazon Kingfisher NO 12 29 2013

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