[ORyoungbirder] 2007 year end, 2008 beginning

[Karl Fairchild]

Hi all,

Haven't posted in a while so I figured I'd do a little catching up with 
recent highlights.

Long weekend of Dec. 13-16 in Burns area: AMERICAN TREE SPARROW flocks 
at Malheur HQ and Center Patrol Road near Knox Pond, 2+ BOHEMIAN 
WAXWINGS in Burns (I have location details for all of the above if 
anyone is interested in looking in these general areas)

Dec. 17: Noah Strycker and I did a crazy chase of the ARCTIC LOON at 
Brownsmead.  We found it, and then thanks to directions from a helpful 
local birder (Steve I think, can't remember the last name off the top of 
my head), we also found a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER and LONG-TAILED DUCK in 
Astoria and Warrenton, respectively.

Dec. 25-Dec. 31: Did birding on the side during a trip to visit family 
in Florida.  2 non-Oregon highlights I'll indulge in sharing were 
BROWN-HEADED NUTHATCH and SEDGE WREN (both lifers)

Today, at Ankeny NWR found a COMMON LOON.  At EE Wilson, found a flock 
of 30 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS.  Just missed crossing paths with Rich 
Armstrong and Paula Vanderheul and finding out about their AMERICAN TREE 
SPARROW.  But that's what I get for not checking all the GC Sparrow flocks.

Now for the best: lists!  I think I ended up with about 275 for Oregon 
year (will  post official tally tomorrow) and 372 for Oregon life.  More 
coming soon on this front.  How did everyone else do this year?

Good Birding,
Karl

Karl Fairchild
Philomath/Corvallis, OR, 22