November 9, 2024 Salmon River in the Cascade Head Scenic Area

Birders by Ruth Shelly

The morning was overcast but dry when 37 participants gathered at Knight Park to enjoy a fruitful morning of birding along the Salmon River. A pair of Belted Kingfishers darted overhead while Hooded Mergansers glided in the distance. Several Bald Eagles and Great Blue Herons kept watch as the gulls entertained with their crabby squabbles and harbor seals drifted with the tide. A Hermit Thrush, kinglets, and chickadees flitted through the brush as the group enjoyed a concentration of different habitats within an easy distance.

Sightings of the day:

Belted Kingfisher by Ruth Shelly

American Crow
Bald Eagle
Common Raven
Northern Harrier 
Herring Gull
Great Blue Heron 
Marsh Wren
Song Sparrow 
Hooded Merganser 
Belted Kingfisher 
Bufflehead 
Western Gull
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 
Hermit Thrush 
Double-crested Cormorant 
Northern Flicker 
Ring-billed Gull
Steller's Jay 
American Robin
Downy Woodpecker 
Bewick’s Wren
Red-tailed Hawk

Birders by Tom Rice

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

November 9, 2019 Salmon River in the Cascade Head Scenic Area

Hah, what a fun morning for a bird walk at Knight Park along the Salmon River, although it started off a bit chilly and gray. After introductions, the thirty-one birders were entertained by a Bald Eagle attempting to put a grebe on the breakfast menu! The eagle hovered and unsuccessfully swooped down at the grebe for about 5 minutes, each time being frustrated by the grebe’s diving underwater to escape its approaching talons! Another surprise was the amount of birds sighted and heard at the end of Three Rocks Road where it led down to a wetland meadow. Two more eagles were viewed in trees on the other side of the river. Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a couple of Golden-crowned sparrows and a Bewick’s Wren made their appearances for most to see! From Knight Park, many of the birders drove to Frasier Road on the other side of the estuary. Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Harrier, chickadees, and a Great Blue Heron were sighted. Twenty-three species were tallied for the morning. Yes, it was an event enjoyed by all . . . and the hot cider provided by the Willoughby’s was very much appreciated!! We had guest birders from Spokane, Pendleton, Newberg, Pacific City, Depoe Bay, McMinnville and Yachats.

Sightings of the day:
Bald Eagle ~ Red-tailed Hawk ~ Common Merganser
Belted Kingfisher ~ Western Gull ~ Hybrid Gull ~ Song Sparrow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet ~ Northern Flicker ~ American Robin
Dark-eyed Junco ~ Bewick's Wren ~ Yellow-rumped Warbler
Chestnut-backed Chickadee ~ Steller's Jay ~ Northern Harrier
Golden-crowned Sparrow ~ Black-capped Chickadee
Yellow-rumped Warbler ~ Anna's Hummingbird
Great Blue Heron ~ Red-breasted Nuthatch

November 11, 2017 Cascade Head Scenic Area at the River House

Coming from Otis, Lincoln City, Siletz, Depoe Bay, Idaho, Coos Bay, and Neskowin, 19 birders gathered in the CHR River House at 9am. After a brief talk on bird photography by ASLC president Jack Doyle, all headed outside for the morning's bird walk along the shoreline of the Salmon River. Twenty-one species of birds were sighted during the on-again/off-again drizzling morning. The weather and the lighting wasn't the best for bird photography but some birders managed to get some decent photos. Back in the River House, hot cider and cookies offered a welcoming respite from the damp outside.

Sightings of the Day
Pacific Loon
Western Gull
Common Merganser
Belted Kingfisher
Bald Eagle
Pacific Wren
Northern Flicker
Pine Siskin
Fox Sparrow
Steller’s Jay
Western Grebe
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Cooper’s Hawk
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Crow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Song Sparrow
Marsh Wren

November 12, 2016 Cascade Head Scenic Area at the River House

We had our monthly Audubon field trip this morning, the subject being how to take bird pictures. For the participating 17 birders, the morning started with high winds and overcast skies but no rain. In our talk about bird photography, we explained how difficult it was to take a picture into a very light background. Turns out we needed all our expertise in taking pictures of a Northern Pygmy Owl. Field guide, Mark Elliot, mentioned when we first started our trip to look out for this owl. We don't know why he said that since we very, very rarely see them. Just before our walk got over and only 50 yards from where we started, one of our group spotted this owl on a branch next to the road. He happened to be the only person from out of state, Kansas of all places, where they do not have this bird. What a treat for all of us!

Sightings of the Day
Common Loon
Surf Scoter
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Hermit Thrush
Marsh Wren
Pacific Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Northern Pygmy Owl
Steller's Jay
Western Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Bald Eagle
Common Raven
Western Gull

November 9, 2013 Cascade Head Scenic Area along the Salmon River

A gathering in the Cascade Head Ranch River House, sipping hot apple cider.
The air was quietly still and misty. Silence periodically broken by Kingfisher chatter.
Flitterings of feathers weaving in and out of brush and boughs.
A perfect morning for 13 people.

Sightings of the Day
Common Loon
Bald Eagle
Surf Scoter
Great Blue Heron
Western Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Belted Kingfisher
American Crow
Sooty Fox Sparrow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Spotted Towhee
Brown Pelicans
Downy Woodpecker
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Oregon Junco
Anna's Hummingbird
Pacific Loon
Western Grebe
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Gold-crowned Kinglet
Pelagic Cormorant
Steller's Jay
Pacific Wren
Song Sparrow
Marsh Wren
American Robin
Northern Flicker
Bufflehead
Canada Goose

River Otter
Harbor Seal
Roosevelt Elk

November 10, 2012 Cascade Head Scenic Area along the Salmon River, Oregon

ASLC held a photo tips class and a field trip on the Salmon River at the foot of the Cascade Head Scenic Area. Birding was great with 20 people participating. Photos were taken from the road that goes along the river next to the riverhouse. Martha Wylder's house is just above this spot and is where she experienced the taking of one of her beloved Gray Jay's while feeding them under the eaves of her home. She thought it might have been one of the small migrating hawks such as the Sharp-shinned Hawk or Merlin Falcon. Meanwhile, down below, the group viewed and ID'd two Peregrine Falcons cruising along the foothill.

Sightings of the Day
American Crow
Belted Kingfisher
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Common Merganser
Double-crested Cormorant
Fox Sparrow
Great Blue Heron
Northern Flicker
Peregrine Falcon
Pine Siskin
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red Crossbill
Ring-billed Gull
Song Sparrow
Surf Scoter
Western Gull
White-fronted Geese
Steller's Jay