Cascade Head

May 11, 2024 Grass Mountain on Cascade Head

The Sitka Center for Art & Ecology generously offered their Grass Mountain property for an ASLC bird walk. This 80-acre preserve on the southwest side of Cascade Head is privately owned and nestled within the national Scenic Research Area, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and bordered by federal forest. Jake Simondet, Sitka's Facilities and Ecology Manager, led our group of 16 through a stunning landscape made all the more meaningful by his knowledge of the area's history, ecology, and botany. Mark Elliott complemented Jake's narrative with a search for birds that were more heard than seen, but everyone left enriched to have experienced such an inspiring hike through towering trees and rolling meadows.

Sightings of the day:

Birders on trail, photo by Tom Rice

Wilson’s Warbler
Hermit Warbler
Black-headed Grosbeak
Raven
Pacific Wren
Townsend’s Warbler
Chestnut-back Chickadee
Stellar’s Jay
Turkey Vulture
American Crow
Band-tailed Pigeon

Group listening to Jake, photo by Ruth Shelly

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

May 12, 2018 The Villages at Cascade Head

Sightings of the Day

Canada Goose
Mallard
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Brandt's Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Whimbrel
Western Sandpiper
Common Murre
Western Gull
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Western Wood-PeweeSteller's Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Barn Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Pacific Wren
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
Red Crossbill
American Goldfinch

September 26, 2015 Villages at Cascade Head

It turned out to be a beautiful day for the walk, in the woods, to the Pacific Ocean, and back.
There were 8 of us that met on this perfectly sunny day.
It is the time of year when some birds are passing through and some are beginning to show up.
We saw a little of both. The whales even showed up to give us all a thrill.

Sightings of the Day

Eurasian Collared-Dove
Northern Flicker
Steller’s Jay
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
White-crowned Sparrow
Oregon Junco
Pine Siskin
Song Sparrow
Bewick’s Wren
Spotted Towee
Turkey Vulture

Golden-crowned Sparrow
Mallard
European Starlings
Brewer’s Blackbird
Pelagic Cormorant
Pacific Loon
Brown Pelican
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Black Phoebe

July 17, 2015 Village at Cascade Head Open Space Bird Walk

There were 12 birders on this walk and it was a calm and sunny day. The weather was wonderful for us as well as the birds. We kept adding to the list as we walked slowly through this space to the Pacific Ocean. Visitors from out of town were impressed with our Open Spaces and expressed how fortunate we were to have such a spot so close to the city.

Sightings of the Day

Cedar Waxwing
White-crowned Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Common Raven
Swainson’s Thrush
Northern Flicker
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Band-tailed Pigeon
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Mockingbird
Rufus Hummingbird
American Robin
Wilson’s Warbler
Western Tanager
Orange-crowned Warbler
Black-capped Chickadee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Turkey VulturePacific Wren
Mallard
Hooded Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Song Sparrow
Anna’s Hummingbird
Black-headed Cowbird
Red-winged Blackbird
Barn Swallow
House Wren
Brewers Blackbird
Western Gull
Pelagic Cormorant
Brandt’s Cormorant
Common Murre
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
American Crow
Black Phoebe
Hermit Warbler