The first evening of my first trip for WINGS. I was immensely nervous and hurriedly mentally rehearsing the entire trip. Mulling over drive times and dining arrangements in the hotel lobby, I rapidly noticed a fellow birder. She was wearing the standard issue uniform – tan and khaki cloths, binoculars suspended on a shoulder harness, and field guide in hand. Introducing myself, I was warmly greeting with a British accent and broad smile. My first client, one who would prove to have true English resolve by the end of the trip. Soon, I was meeting and greeting seven more participants. After chatting for a bit, we did what birders do, we went birding, even if it was in the neighboring industrial park. We found starlings, House Sparrows, and Brewer’s Blackbirds. Nothing shocking, but it was a start.
After a most excellent dinner at the Depot in Missoula, we departed for our first birding destination, the Kim Williams Trail along the Clark Fork River. The target bird was the Nashville Warbler, and this spot always produces. Well, not this time. We were skunked by the Nashville. Missing our first target bird, not exactly the way I wanted to start the trip. On the positive side of the ledger, an accommodating Cooper’s Hawk flew into view, much to the delight of the clients.
As evening drew to a close, the entire party traveled along Pattee Canyon to look – well, listen – for the small, dark-eyed Flammulated Owl that haunts these stands of large Ponderosa pines. I felt good about our chances of the detecting the owl as I was wearing my good luck Flammulated Owl t-shirt. Soon after leaving the vans, Common Nighthawks harvested the air overhead of flying insects and Swainson’s Thrushes sang and called for the ever-darkening forest. Guess what? The owl refused to make a peep, and the mosquitos, night fall, and shoe-soaking seeping ground caused a hasty retreat. 0 for 2.
As sleep approached, the mantra “tomorrow is another day” cycled through my mind.
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