November 11, 2023 Salmon River within the Cascade Head Scenic Area

Mark Elliott led 26 birders along the Salmon River to the mouth of the Pacific Ocean. A morning seeing some amazing birds and without rain. It was perfect. 

Sightings of the day:

Group shot by Steve Griffiths

Varied Thrush
Black Phoebe
Western Gull
Hooded Merganser 
American Crow 
Belted Kingfisher 
Bald Eagle 
Cooper’s Hawk 
Hooded Merganser 
Red Phalarope 
Common Goldeneye 
Steller's Jay
American Robin
Northern Flicker
Red-throated Loon
Pacific Loon
Red Crossbill
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant 
Song Sparrow 
Yellow-rumped Warbler 
Red-tailed Hawk
Northern Harrier 
Great Egret

Salmon River by Steve Griffiths

October 13, 2023 The Villages and Roads End State Park

Mark Elliott led 9 birders through the woods and to the beach. For some this was a new experience. As we walked we could identify some by ear as well as sight. We saw a variety of birds even though the season is changing.

Sightings of the day:

Trip leader Mark Elliott and group, photo courtesy of Tom Rice

Stellar’s Jay
Pacific Wren
Dark-eyed Junco
American Crow
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Great Blue Heron
Mallard
Western Gull
Brewers Blackbird
European Starling
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown Pelican
House Sparrow

September 8, 2023 Cutler City & Siletz Bay

ASLC’s birdwalk sponsored by Lincoln City Explorience was led by Halle Renn with 24 participants. It was a quiet walk through Cutler City Wetlands and the neighborhood. We spent time watching an Eagle and Cormorants enjoying the sun.

Sightings of the day:

Group, photo by Tom Rice

Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Cedar Waxwing
Chipmunk
Anna’s Hummingbird
Stellar’s Jay
Northern Flicker
Black-capped Chickadee
Spotted Towhee
House Finch
White-crowned Sparrow
Eurasian Collared Dove
Brewers Blackbird
American Crow
Bald Eagle
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Rufous Hummingbird
Merganser
Red-winged Blackbird
Pied-billed Grebe
Brewer’s Blackbird

July 8, 2023 Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area

Brandt’s Cormorants with chicks, photo by Ruth Shelly

Yaquina Head in July never disappoints! We enjoyed watching colonies of nesting seabirds including Common Murres, Brandt’s and Pelagic Cormorants, and Pigeon Guillemots. A great time was had by all who attended!

Turkey Vulture and Common Murres, photo by Ruth Shelly

Birders at Yaquina Head, photo by Ruth Shelly

July 7, 2023 Nesika Park

Caren Willoughby assisting a young birder with the spotting scope, photo by Ruth Shelly

28 birders strong, we began our walk by observing the resident Osprey nest near Nesika Park. We were lucky to see all three juveniles with both adults at the nest! We then continued on to the Nesika Park trail to search for songbirds in the forest and wetlands. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed sharing the love of birding with the next generation of birders!

Adult female and juvenile Ospreys on the nest, photo by Ruth Shelly

Birders on trail, photo by Ruth Shelly

June 10, 2023 Ona Beach & Beavercreek

Belted Kingfisher by Ruth Shelly

It was a bright, sunny day for a bird walk on the beach! We started with a walk through the woods along the creek where we saw a great variety of nesting songbirds including warblers and swallows. We then moved on to the beach where we looked for wading shorebirds.

Birders on trail by Ruth Shelly

Birders on the beach by Ruth Shelly

June 9, 2023 The Knoll

Birders resting and taking in the views after a steep climb up to The Knoll by Ruth Shelly

We had 8 people total (2 from the class, Jane and Cindy, and one from the Osprey project, Juliette, and 5 Audubon folks).

Bird list:

Wilson's warbler
Steller's jay
Pacific slope flycatcher
Warbling vireo
Golden-crowned kinglet
Crow
American robin
Pacific wren
Black-headed grosbeak
Brandt's cormorant
Brown pelican
Eurasian collared dove
Surf scoter

May 12, 2023 Cutler City Open Space

Mark Elliott walked 21 birders through the beautiful Cutler City Open Space. It was a warm and pleasant morning. Participants were delighted to see the native rhododendron in full bloom. While listening and looking for birds it’s also an opportunity to make new friends.

Sightings of the day:

Birders on trail at Cutler City Open Space

Great Blue Heron
Canada Geese
Wilson’s Warbler
Blackheaded Grosbeak
Bushtit
American Robin
Tree swallow
European Starling
Common Merganser
White-crowned Sparrow
Black-capped Chickadee
Violet-green Swallow
Vaux’s Swift
Dark-eyed Junco
Orange-crowned Warbler
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
House Sparrow

Rhododendrons in bloom

May 13, 2023 Sitka Sedge State Natural Area

Birders on trail by Tom Rice

The variety of coastal habitats teemed with life as we followed the trail that winds through tidal flats, saltwater marshes, and forested wetlands to the ocean. It was a beautiful day, and we spotted lots of songbirds and shorebirds along the way.

Birders on the beach by Tom Rice

Birders on the beach by Tom Rice

April 8, 2023 Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge

The rain held off while 26+birders joined, Mark Elliott for the Audubon walk. This walk provides a variety of birds and a beautiful close up look at the signs of Spring.

Aleutian Geese by Ruth Shelly

Sightings of the day:
Travelers/Lesser/Cackling/Aleutian Geese
Green-winged Teal
American Wigeon
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Anna’s Hummingbird
Kingfisher
Great-blue Heron
American Robin
Canada Jay
Bufflehead
Song Sparrow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Barn Owl

Pacific Wren by Ruth Shelly

April 7, 2023 The Villages and Roads End

Birders doing what they do best by Caren Willoughby

The Village birdwalk didn’t disappoint 17 people that joined leader, Mark Elliott on a walk through the woods. Most of the participants were new to the area and were excited to learn about Lincoln City’s Open Spaces. The walk gave us a chance to observe the following species:

Trip leader Mark Elliott with a spotting scope by Caren Willoughby

Stellar’s Jay
American Robin
American Crow
Dark-eyed Junco
Varied Thrush
Pacific Wren
Rufous and Anna’s Hummingbirds
Song Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
White-crowned Sparrow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Mallard
Canada Geese
Bushit
Eurasian-collared Dove
Red-winged Blackbird
Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets

March 11, 2023 Spring Lake Open Space

Saturday, March 11, was a great day to get out and enjoy nature. Spring Lake is an amazing walk through the woods and 17 birders pointed out signs of spring and watched and listened for birds.

Birders on trail by Caren Willoughby

Sightings of the day:

Mossy nest by Caren Willoughby

Canada Geese
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Stellar’s Jay
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
Pacific Wren
Anna’s Hummingbird
Northern Flicker

Townsend’s Warbler by Caren Willoughby

January 7, 2023 Yaquina Bay and South Jetty

21 intrepid birders showed up for our first 2023 Bird Walk. Dressed in rain gear and lead by volunteer Elizabeth Laver Holencik, they walked the trail along Yaquina Bay then drove to the South Jetty of the Yaquina River for more good birding. 32 species on the day in spite of the weather! Thanks to Ruth Shelly for the photos and to Liz for the great job leading in the rain!

Birders in the rain, photo by Ruth Shelly

Sightings of the Day:

Surf Scoters by Ruth Shelly

Pacific Loon by Ruth Shelly

Harlequin Duck by Ruth Shelly

American Wigeon
Green-winged Teal
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Whimbrel
Marbled Godwit
Black Turnstone
Least Sandpiper
Red Phalarope
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Brandt's Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
American Crow
European Starling
American Robin
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow