strike two

There it is, that cute little kingfisher, blue or gray, NOT green. I used to like little Belted Kingfishers, funny little haircut, big nose, nice rattle sound. Nice little bird. I could go on and on about them but NOT today. I searched before the Wednesday morning San Pedro House bird walk. I searched after the Wednesday morning San Pedro House bird walk. I couldn’t find the Green Kingfisher. She’s in there, I will find her, but not today. I have to let go of her for a while, then I will find the Green Kingfisher.

My strategy right now is to work from a list I drew up a few months ago, focusing on harder to find birds that I chase after first. I have a piece of paper with two columns. In a bold stroke of ingeniousness, I have labeled the columns “difficult” and “less difficult”. After crossing that hurdle, I added a “W” for winter birds and notes on locations to search. I really only need Ferruginous Hawk and Lewis’s Woodpecker as regularly occurring winter visitor.

Whoa! What’s this?! I don’t believe it! This just in on the teletype! WHITE-THROATED THRUUUUUUUUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Code Red! Code Red!!! Repeat: This is a Code Red Alert!! First state record! I can’t believe it! Here’s my chance for a real rare bird chase. It was seen today in Madera Canyon and photographed well. Tomorrow I go, early. I’ll never sleep tonight….