Rare visitor seen in Texas again for the first time since 1961 (double-striped thick-knee)
Birders across Texas dropped everything this past weekend when a once-in-a-lifetime sighting was reported in Wilson County: a double-striped thick-knee—a rare and strange-looking shorebird not seen in the state since 1961.
The bird was spotted on Sunday on private land near the town of Nixon, where it was first noticed by the property owner's grandchildren. Sensing it was something out of the ordinary, the family alerted Ginger Coleman, who shared a photo of the bird in a local birding Facebook group. What followed was a statewide scramble.
"I was sitting at home when I saw the message and quickly got dressed and got on the road with two other local birders," local birdwatcher Dania Sanchez told Chron. She wasn't alone. Birders traveled from across the state—Sanchez and her companions drove in from Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Harlingen—to try and catch a glimpse of a bird that had appeared in Texas only once before, more than six decades ago.
Native to a swath of territory stretching from southern Mexico through Central America and parts of northern South America, the double-striped thick-knee typically inhabits dry pastures and open spaces. It's a striking bird—tall, with long legs and a neck, large eyes, and a short, thick bill. Though considered a shorebird, it favors grasslands over coasts and is most active at night. By day, it often shelters in shady spots, eyes half-lidded against the sun.
https://www.chron.com/life/wildlife/article/double-striped-thick-knee-texas-21050661.php
= new reply since forum marked as read
