September 9, 2016 Birding the Little Nestucca River in Kayaks

What a beautiful, sunny morning to spend in kayaks searching for the winged ones! Six birders, from Lincoln City, Otis and Depoe Bay enjoyed paddling and birding the Little Nestucca River. Even before we launched our kayaks in the river, a Bald Eagle made an appearance just on the other side of the river. We caught the river during slack tide and headed down river toward the bay. Up ahead, 150-200 yards, about a dozen Great Egrets and just as many Great Blue Herons were mingling along the river bank. And just in front of them on a sandbar must have been about 75 Double-crested Cormorants. In all 26 bird species were sighted. On the return trip, a Belted Kingfisher led us upriver for quite a distance. Oh, and let's not forget that we saw 2 other Bald Eagles perched on a tree at river's edge. Fantastic morning!!

Sightings of the Day
Bald Eagle
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Double-crested Cormorant
Spotted Sandpiper
Barn Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Canada Goose
Mallard
Common Merganser
American Crow
Western Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Immature Gulls
Red-winged Blackbird
Marsh Wren
Northern Flicker
Song Sparrow
Sandpipers - flock of -Least or -Western
American Robin
European Starling
Belted Kingfisher
Wilson’s Warbler
Turkey Vulture
Steller's Jay