Thank-you Dennis!

Do you mean rare birds like the Ross's Gull at McNary Dam discovered by Phil
Bartley Nov.1995 or the Eurasian Dotterel at Ocean Shores? I will say that
it is the joy of the chase, beating the odds and actually seeing a rare
species that weighs just grams or ounces that you never imagined would show
up way out of range in a region where it has never been seen, documented or
recorded. Seeing an individual that is surviving the odds and is still alive
even though it is out exploring unknown areas to its species. I will tell
you that chasing rare birds is also a great amount of fun. Yes it is about
fun, sharing, learning and understanding just how very little we really know
about birds and their movements.It is also about trying to anticipate who
else will be out looking. Do you know that there are folks that we only get
to see and visit with while out after rare birds. Reams have been written
about rare birds and their discovery. Regardless of who writes about these
rare moments there is always life and excitement in relating the
appearance/discovery of a rare bird. Even the most emotionally detached
scientist has to get a thrill when they see an unexpected species way
outside of its pigeon hole. I once had a well known Biologist tell me that
there is no such thing as a rare bird, that there are endangered birds with
low populations and mis-placed birds with stable populations. Mis-placed
species like the Brown Shrike in Nov. 1986, the Temmnick's Stint at Ocean
Shores, Variegated Flycatcher at Windust Park or the Stellers Eider on the
Walla Walla River delta all of these and many more have brought great joy to
folks birding their lives away.

Later Mike Denny