April 13, 2024 Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge

ASLC had a busy day at Nestucca Wildlife Refuge. Mark Elliott led 17 birders along the Refuge’s trails. We didn’t get far when 2 sub-adults and one Adult Bald Eagle welcomed us. Not to be outdone a Peregrine Falcon flies not far behind. This is the perfect time to visit and see the area awaken from winter.

Sightings of the day:

Birders on trail, photo by Caren Willoughby

Bald Eagle
Peregrine Falcon
White-crowned Sparrow
Pacific Wren
Canada Jay
American Robin
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Orange-crowned Warbler
Surf Scoter
Mallard
Bufflehead
Double-crested and Pelagic Cormorant
Red-breasted Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Belted Kingfisher
Western Gull
Dowitcher
White Egret
Northern Harrier
Brewers Blackbird
White-winged Scoter
Early Blue Violet 
Paintbrush 
Spruce
Fawn Lily

Blue Violets by Caren Willoughby

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 13, 2019 Two Rivers Nature Trail, Nestucca Bay NWR

Fifteen people joined ASLC field trip leader Mark Elliott at Nestucca National Wildlife Refuge to walk the new Two Rivers Nature Trail. The weather was cool, grey, and drizzly and we all got a bit damp, but it was well worth it. The newly opened section of the refuge meanders through woods full of fern, flowers, and massive trees.

One spot had remnants of a garden, complete with a large Magnolia tree. It was our birdiest spot, with warblers, thrush, chickadees, and kinglets all singing and flitting from tree to tree.

At the two-rivers lookout, we stopped and admired the view, spotting waterfowl such as Common Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser along with a couple of Great Egrets. All-told we saw or heard 38 species!

Rufous Hummingbird photo complements of Ernie Rose

Sightings of the day:
Cackling Goose ~ Canada Goose ~ Wood Duck
Mallard ~ Green-winged Teal ~ Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye ~ Red-breasted Merganser
Band-tailed Pigeon ~ Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird ~ Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron ~ Great Egret ~ Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier ~ Bald Eagle ~ Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher ~ Steller's Jay ~ American Crow
Common Raven ~ Tree Swallow ~ Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee ~ Brown Creeper ~ Pacific Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet ~ Ruby-crowned Kinglet ~ Varied Thrush
American Robin ~ European Starling ~ Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow ~ Song Sparrow ~ Spotted Towhee
Orange-crowned Warbler ~ Townsend's Warbler

March 10, 2018 Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Saturday was a beautiful day for birding. Audubon had 26 birders turn out for a beautiful walk at the Refuge. Turkey Vultures and Tree Swallows showed us that Spring is just around the corner.

Sightings of the Day

Turkey Vulture
Tree Swallow
Common Raven
American Crow
Steller’s Jay
American Robin
Great Egret
Northern Pintail
American Wigeon
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Pacific Wren
Western Gull
Sandpiper (sp)
Bald Eagle
Sanderling
Red-shouldered Hawk
Rufus Hummingbird
Fox Sparrow
Red-tailed Hawk
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Bufflehead
Northern Harrier
Northern Flicker
Song Sparrow
Great Blue Heron
Prairie Falcon
American Coot
Ring-billed Duck
European Starling
American Kestrel
Eurasian Dove
Black Phoebe
Red-winged Blackbird

March 11, 2017 Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Despite the lovely rain that fell, 15 determined birders showed up at the Nestucca Wildlife Refuge. We could see and hear signs of Spring everywhere including the return of the Turkey Vulture. The dark, rainy weather kept us from getting many photos to post!!

Sightings of the Day
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Mallard
European Starling
American Crow
Common Raven
Great Blue Heron
Tree Swallow
Anna's Hummingbird
Cackling Goose
Red-tailed Hawk
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Northern Flicker
Dark-eyed Junco
Bald Eagle
Turkey Vulture
Steller's Jay
Pacific Wren
Rufus Hummingbird
Scrub Jay
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Song Sparrow
Canada Goose
Killdeer
Great Egret
Brewer's Blackbird
Violet-green Swallow
Red-winged Blackbird
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
American Coot
Cooper's Hawk
Brown-headed Cowbird

February 14, 2015 Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Sightings of the Day
Steller's Jay
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Anna's Hummingbird
Bald Eagle
Great Blue Heron
American Crow
Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Pacific Wren
Hutton’s Vireo
Downy Woodpecker
Tundra Bean Goose
Dusky Goose
Mallards
Red-winged Blackbird
Prairie Falcon
European Starlings
Brewer's Blackbird
Great Egret
American Robin
Hooded Merganser
Killdeer

February 9, 2013 Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Upon the arrival of some of us, we were greeted by a flyover of what is fast becoming our group's mascot, the Bald Eagle, which has been present at all but one ASLC field trip in the past 4-5 years. When all were present in the lower parking lot of the Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge, we gathered in a circle, announced our names and resident towns, and then made a slow procession uphill toward the observation platform. With binoculars in hand, cameras at the ready, eyes and ears sensitive to the slightest movement and/or faintest sound, field guides Mark Elliott and Dick Demarest gave the other 28 birders an idea of what birds we might observe at this place during this time of year. It was a gray, misty morning with fog heading toward us from the north. When we arrived at the upper parking lot, the fog was dropping down to the top of the trees of the wooded hillside on our right. As we made the turn on to the path heading to the observation platform, a Bald Eagle flew right over us before any of the photographers had a chance to snap a shot prior to its being dissolved by the fog. If that wasn't unfortunate enough, another eagle followed the same flight path within a few minutes, and still no photos! By then we could see the fog had dropped below the trees, so it was decided we would travel the Meda Loop Rd that circles the wetland of the Little Nestucca River on the east side of Hwy 101. In the past it has always rewarded us with greating sightings, and it continued to do so on this day. In all, between the two locations, 35 species were viewed. Not bad for such a gray day!

Birds Pictured (clockwise from top left):
Black Phoebe
Marsh Wren
Great Blue Heron
Northern Pintail and Canada Goose

Sightings of the Day
Red Crossbill
Northern Flicker
Dusky Goose
Bald Eagle (5 adults, 1 immature)
American Robin
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Merlin
Red-breasted Nuthatch
American Kestrel
Hooded Merganser
Gold-crowned Kinglet
Townsend's Warbler
Bufflehead
Red-winged Blackbird
Red-tailed Hawk
Great Blue Heron
Belted Kingfisher
Song Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Pied-billed Grebe
Mallard
Gold-crowned Sparrow
Northern Pintail
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black Phoebe
American Crow
American Coot
Ring-necked Duck
Gadwall
Glaucous-winged Gull
Dark-eyed Junco
Steller's Jay
Wilson’s Snipe
Marsh Wren

February 11, 2012 Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge • Cloverdale, OR

At 9am, 11 birders gathered under the overcast sky and walked their way up to the observation deck above the information center. With keen ears, Tom, from Portland, identified the sound of the Hutton's Vireo. On the hilltop 2 eagles were spotted, and a raven sat chattering down at the birders as they passed underneath. Many species of small birds flitted from bush to bush. The 2nd part of the walk took place travelling the loop which was on the east side of Hwy 101. With an initial belief that it was a Perregrine Falcon, the Prairie Falcon left its perch high on a snag, flew over the birders and headed south where it was seen performing a rapid, death-defying drop from high above.

Sightings of the Day
Sharp-shinned Hawk
American Robin
American Crow
Purple Finch
Townsend Warbler
Hutton’s Vireo
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Mallard
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Bald Eagle
Common Raven
Lincoln's Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Red-tailed Hawk
Spotted Towhee
Bewick’s Wren
Song Sparrow
Pacific Wren
Northern Pintail
Dusky Geese
Great Blue Heron
Red-wing Blackbird
European Starling
Prairie Falcon
Canada Goose
Cackling Goose
American Coot
Lesser Scaup
Ring-necked Duck
Bufflehead
Stellar's Jay
Green-winged Teal
Gadwall
Black Phoebe
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
Gold-crowned Sparrow
Belted Kingfisher
American Kestrel
Northern Flicker
Northern Shrike
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Western Meadowlark
Northern Harrier

December 11, 2010 Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge (IBA)

Whew, the day was definitely for the ducks . . . with gusting winds and sheets of rain showering the land, drenching every square inch of any surface exposed to the elements. A perfect day to stay indoors, sitting by the fire, comfortably content reading a book and sipping tea or hot chocolate. Ah yes! But . . . oh no . . . eight diehard birders from Otis and Lincoln City climbed in their chariots and headed to the Nestucca Wildlife Refuge in Cloverdale. Meeting at the parking lot, they climbed into 2 vehicles (4 in each) to begin their morning of bird watching. First stop was at the top of the observation hill. To the north above the treeline flew a raven. Actually, we thought it was being tossed around by the wind . . . either that or it ate some craziweed. Its flight was anything but graceful! "Look there, on the southern ridge. Three cowbirds!" The birders turned around so fast, you'd swear they would have all fallen with whiplash. Kidding . . . they're just three cows!" That's pretty much how the rest of the morning progressed. Lots of laughter yet, surprisingly, many bird sightings! In fact, by the time we finished driving around the neighborhood of the local dairy farms, frequently clambering out of the cars to get better, wetter, views of the numerous winged ones, and stopping at the Grateful Bread Restaurant for brunch, we had a count of 36 species of birds who were crazy enough to be flapping around in such wild weather! Go figure!! (Sorry, readers, but no photos were taken, for obvious reasons!!) If you'd like to learn more about the Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge, click here.

Birds seen at NWR, Little Nestucca, and surrounding area:

Sightings of the Day

Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Common Raven
Canada Geese
Cackling Geese
Hermit Thrush
Steller Jay
Spotted Towhee
Bufflehead
Northern Flicker
House Finch
Purple Finch
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
American Robin
European StarlingBrewer's Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird
American Coot
Ring-necked Duck
Red-tailed Hawk
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Mallard
Northern Harrier
American Wigeon
Northern Pintail
Immature Bald Eagle
Western Gull
American Crow
House Sparrow
American Kestrel
Surf Scoter
Golden-crowned Sparrow

December 12, 2009 with Mark Elliott - Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Sightings of the Day
Killdeer
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Northern Pintail
Pied-billed Grebe
Green-winged Real
Bufflehead
Mallard
Dusky Canada Geese
Flicker
Pacific Wren
Bewick's Wren
Lincoln's Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Mew gull
Red-tailed Hawk
Steller's Jay
Northern Harrier
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Dark-eyed Junco
Dunlin
Great Blue Heron
Varied Thrush