[Tweeters] FW: Hi guys; new member of your *253* fraternity....

[Tom Mansfield]

Oh Rick – Tina always did have a great deal of taste.  I can remember peeing behind your car while everyone was trying to focus on a VERY distant AND RARE bird with so many of us including Ruth Sullivan trying to focus cameras.  And of course it wasn’t relevant in the long run because no one actually got a photo of the bird in question. You guys were stalwart competitors.  And accomplished so much.  If what we did had any benefit who knows?  We llved in  an incredible time when chasing and identifying birds was an “honorable” pursuit and we added to the records in a tangible way.  We came after the “founding” stalwarts locally but we took it to NEW heights, with respect of course.  I am on the final run; I am not sorry nor seeking sympathy.  Life is as life does.  As they used to say on Tweeters, may all your birds be identified but I can tell you, it’s the ones that aren’t that most interest me.  Cheers  tm


From: Rick Taylor <taylorrl at outlook.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 7, 2024 5:29 PM
To: Tom Mansfield <birds at t-mansfield.com>
Subject: RE: FW: Hi guys; new member of your *253* fraternity....

Tom,

Happy New Year.  Tina I and were talking a couple of days ago that we hadn’t seen a post from you or Mary Francis in a while.  I’m glad that you are still able to get out occasionally.  Tina and I are doing well now.  I was sidelined with cancer for a while; but, it is currently undetectable.  So we are living life well while we can.  I no longer have any stamina and am only good for half day birding or sightseeing; but we are making the most of it.  We spent 16 weeks traveling last year.   We spent 2 weeks in Antarctica watching penguins, did a couple of weeks in France, and spent 5 weeks in Australian and New Zealand.  We picked up a lot of lifers down under.  We haven’t been birding much locally, Tina got bored going to the same places to see the same birds…  So, now I take her to new parts of the world to find new birds.  It makes count listing seem downright cheap.

Enjoy the New Year!

Rick

Rick Taylor
Everett, WA

From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces at mailman11.u.washington.edu<mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman11.u.washington.edu>> On Behalf Of Tom Mansfield
Sent: Saturday, January 6, 2024 8:49 PM
To: Marcus Roening <marcus at rainierconnect.com<mailto:marcus at rainierconnect.com>>
Cc: Tweeters (E-mail) <tweeters at u.washington.edu<mailto:tweeters at u.washington.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] FW: Hi guys; new member of your *253* fraternity....

No worries Marcus – but I am proud to have been admitted to the 253.  Cheers, tm.

From: Marcus Roening <marcus at rainierconnect.com<mailto:marcus at rainierconnect.com>>
Sent: Saturday, December 30, 2023 7:57 PM
To: Tom Mansfield <birds at t-mansfield.com<mailto:birds at t-mansfield.com>>
Subject: Re: FW: Hi guys; new member of your *253* fraternity....


Hi Tom,

Humble apologies!  The really sad part is that I used eBird first and then added in folks from WA Birder off to the side on my paper list - which was you!  I can't believe I did that and still left you off the list?!  An Emperor Goose was an incredibly sweet bird to have be your #253.

Here's to hoping you just might find another wonderful bird or two in the New Year.

Good birding, Marcus
On 12/30/2023 7:12 AM, Tom Mansfield wrote:
Hey Marcus – I just saw your post about the 253…  Not certain why anyone didn’t pass it along but I’m also a member!  Cheers and Happy New Year to Heather and you – tm.

PS – I’m birding even less now than in 2021 but do still get out once in a while; got the YBLO in Edmonds yesterday.

From: Tom Mansfield
Sent: Saturday, November 6, 2021 8:18 PM
To: Bruce LaBar (blabar at harbornet.com<mailto:blabar at harbornet.com>) <blabar at harbornet.com><mailto:blabar at harbornet.com>; phwimberger at pugetsouind.eu<mailto:phwimberger at pugetsouind.eu>
Subject: Hi guys; new member of your *253* fraternity....

Hi Bruce and Peter – I wanted you to know that I came down and spotted the EMGO today, my 253rd bird for Pierce County.  I can’t bird anymore due to physical issues with my legs (I can’t spend a lot of time driving or standing or walking) but this was a goal I have been wanting to accomplish.  Ironically, despite the doc telling me “no” when I asked, I drove down to Puyallup this morning and in a pouring rain found a couple along West Pioneer who seemed to be scoping intently.  I pulled up and to my surprise it was Andy and Ellen Stepniewski from  Yakima, with whom I was involved with the Patrick Sullivan Young Birders Fund for 12 years before resigning last year.  We had an amazing reunion, which I didn’t think would happen in this lifetime.  But they didn’t have the EMGO.  I had had a text 2 hours earlier from Matt Bartels who knew I was going to try and he last saw the bird at the Chalet Tavern.  The Yakkers then followed me to the Chalet Tavern and lo and behold as soon as I started scanning with the scope I found the EMGO – no sign of the SNGO.  So, I got the Yakkers on it.  But then had to head back for home.   What a wonderful conclusion to my *like* third or fourth birding adventure of 2021.  More importantly, I am honored and humbled to join your exclusive circle!  Sending cheers and best, tm.
--
Marcus Roening Tacoma WA
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