What a wonderful start to a fun morning of birding . . . the sky was blue, crystal clear, and sunny. Except for the noisy activity of fishermen trucking their boats to the dock at river's edge in Knight Park, the air was still, the water was calm. Seventeen birders gathered around the kayaks and canoes which they would later ride but first they were interested in what guest speaker, Mary Coolidge, had to say about her conservation work with the Portland Audubon Society. Shortly after, local bird expert Dick Demarest led the group around Knight Park to get glimpses of nearby bird activities. The silence was cut by the chattering of Kingfishers and the chirps of Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Golden-crowned Kinglets. Easily seen with the naked eye were close to a dozen Turkey Vultures, seven on one side of the river, five on the other. Taking in the sights sat Western Gulls on the mudflats of the estuary. Close to 11am, the adventurous members of the group climbed in the canoes while others cautiously entered the snug-fitting kayaks. With the tide coming in, it was a bit of a chore paddling toward the mouth of the Salmon River. The trip was very peaceful, very rewarding.
Mary Coolidge
Sightings of the Day
Belted Kingfisher
Turkey Vulture (mature and immature)
Double-crested Cormorant
Western Gull
American Crow
Great Blue Heron
American Robin
Tree Swallow
Stellar's Jay
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Song Sparrow
Red-shafted Flicker
Northern Harrier
Pacific Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Brown Pelican
Gray Jay
