[obol] 8/02/13 - Union County, Thief Valley, OR : SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER
- From: AVITOURS@xxxxxxx
- To: birding-neoregon-group@xxxxxxx, obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, inland-nw-birders@xxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 2 Aug 2013 16:08:57 -0400 (EDT)
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
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