Birders - This morning (8/02, 7:50 a.m.), while driving down to Thief Valley Reservoir, 1 mile from the Telocaset Road/ Thief Valley Road junction, I found a immature male/ adult female (shorter tail & less pink) SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER (45.01'52" N & 117.46'49"W, according to my gps).This is the first documented sighting that I am aware of from Union County, and according to the OBRC, the 19th Oregon State record. I was lucky enough to snap off a few digiscoped photos with my phone camera, which can be viewed here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14840777 http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m527/avitours/scissor-perch_zps68f136de. jpg http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m527/avitours/scissor-perchII_zps332255c 9.jpg The SCISSOR-TAILED appeared on the east side of the road, along the fence line, and with the sun in my eyes, I initially thought it was a Western Kingbird. It briefly perched on the fence wire, and I got it in binoculars, just as a EASTERN KINGBIRD began to mob it. Both birds flew across Thief Valley Road towards the west and into the Sage. I grabbed my big camera and it was out of juice, so I quickly plugged it into the recharger, and grabbed my phone and my scope. As the SCISSOR-TAILED flew out of view, over a small rise, and I could feel the anxiety building, thinking that I was going to miss a photo opportunity. I usually try to spend half of my time birding at Thief, looking down for Rattlesnakes. But, I ran in the direction of the bird's flight path and got snagged up in some loose barbed wire instead (luckily), falling down on the gravel road, and throwing my Kowa in the dirt. I jumped back up and rapidly took 6 photos. The bird disappeared heading up the small drainage there, and I was unable to relocate it. On my short walk back to the truck, my adrenaline waned, and I became aware of my injuries (numerous). I cleaned myself up, checked out my scope (which avoided injury), and drove a bit over a mile up the road, until I got cellular service. I called all of the local birders I could think of and headed back down to try it again. I could not relocate the SCISSOR-TAILED, despite looking for an additional hour. As cohort Bob Behrstock once told me, "It's better to lucky than good." Cathy Nowak and Renee Coxen of Union and La Grande, were headed out to look for the bird this morning and Luke Burton of Baker City was heading out this afternoon. So, hopefully all of them will relocate it. Good birding, - Trent Bray The Bobolink - Linking Birders & Birds 1707 5th Street La Grande, OR 97850 (541) 963 - 2888 avitours@xxxxxxx