Hilarious David! Yeah those Klamath County birders are few but we need to
keep an eye on them ; )
Tim
On Mon, Jun 15, 2020 at 6:22 PM David Bailey <davidcbaileyoregon@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Absolutely Tim! I am very envious if this Twitch! Wasn't it Kevin Spencer
that found the Kentucky Warbler east of there in the Winema/Fremont
National Forest many years ago? I twitch that singing male for my life and
only observation of the species. I had a great experience on the way home
when I stopped for some owling. While doing my best imitation of a Great
Gray Owl, some large owl came straight at me and knocked of my backwards
facing ball cap and my glasses. There were talon Mark's on the plastic size
strip of the cap. I would probably be blind were it not for being
nearsighted and wearing glasses. It was dark and happened so fast that I
was not able to determine the species of owl that I had offened...
On Mon, Jun 15, 2020, 17:49 Tim Rodenkirk <timrodenkirk@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi David,
I also prefer to find my own rarities and have NOT chased many “lifers”
or state birds recently found by others in the last decade. Most of my
chasing is on the south coast these days.
Anyhow, upon hearing the description of where this bird was and knowing
that it promised a most enjoyable hike, I was compelled to go down. I have
always wanted to see the Klamath Gorge. It is spectacular! We saw people
backpacking in on our way out. I count myself lucky to have seen such
beauty.
Of course another big draw was to bird with friends I don’t see often
which included the two “finders” and Dave Haupt, all excellent birders and
just fun people to hang with. I went down Saturday afternoon, camped in the
Cascades at a remarkably beautiful non-campground location and picked up
Frank Mayer at 0430 in KFalls. We met Kevin and Dave and Paul and Courtney
and Caleb at 0530 at the rim and began or journey.
The wildflowers on the walk down were spectacular! We saw cool birds like
gnatcatchers and many singing Nashville Warblers etc. etc. just hiking
down. The river bottom is a paradise and the only spot in the county for YB
Chat and Wrentit (the latter we missed). There is a ton of history down
below and an old pioneer route that went through the area. It was utterly
spectacular Wood Thrush or not.
I really pick my chases anymore but this was a fun one, I would have been
smiling ear to ear whether or not the Wood Thrush was there or not. I also
sometimes forget that one of the perks of chasing is visiting with folks I
rarely see but enjoy visiting with very much.
Anyhow happy trails and happy birding- still looking for that mind
bending rarity in my neck iof the woods!
Tim Rodenkirk
Coos Bay
