Last year Tiffany Kersten set a new record for most species seen in the 48 continental United States. She started a new business as a guide in January, and today I was her second customer. We had a great day and found three of the four ultra rare birds being seen in the area. The fourth was not seen by anyone today and I will try for that tomorrow.
I added 36 new birds to my yearly list. My current total of 110 does not place me in the top 100 for the current year, so I have a long way to go.
The first great bird of the day was a bat falcon. This bat-eating bird was never seen in the USA until last month. The bird has stayed in the area long enough for me to see it. It was a very foggy morning, and my photos do not do the bird justice, but I will post one anyway.
Next up was the Crimson-collared Grosbeak that has been at Quinta Mazatlan since early December. This was the most cooperative of the local rarities. it appeared at its usual spot near the entrance shortly after we arrived.
We proceeded to Valley Nature Center where I spent four fruitless hours the yesterday trying to locate the skulking Golden-crowned Warbler. This bird successfully eluded me for another hour before I finally became the second to last person in the park to get a good look at it. The last person was the gentleman behind me whose view I inadvertently blocked when I raised my hands in jubilation. I didn't realize he was behind me, and I thought the bird had left our field of view. He corrected my misunderstanding. Fortunately I ran into him later in the day and he had finally gotten a good look at the bird. All was forgiven and a great weight was lifted off my shoulders.
Bat Falcon seen in the fog by the dawn's early light
Common Pauraque, a nocturnal bird, sleeping on the ground.
Eastern Screech-owl, another nocturnal bird catching some shut-eye.
Curve-billed Thrasher
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