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 12, 2022 Salmon River Estuary at Knight Park

We had blue skies and plenty of action for 23 birders on our Explorience walk. The hawks were out in numbers and so were the smaller birds trying to chase them off. As the walk continued we saw a variety of birds in the trees. The fact that it was sunny made us all happy.

Sightings of the Day:

Rough-legged Hawk
Bald Eagle
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Greater Yellowlegs
Belted Kingfisher
Raven
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Mew Gull
Western Gull
Pied-bill Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Pelagic Cormorant
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Townsend Warbler
Brown Creeper
Hummingbird
Common Merganser
Surf Scoter
European Starling
Stellar’s Jay
Northern Flicker
American Robin 
American Crow

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 10, 2018 Salmon River at Knight Park

Photo compliments of Ernie Rose

After a rainy night the sun came out for the 20 birders that wanted to check out the birds a Knight Park. It’s always fun to meet enthusiastic birders and enjoy that time with them. It’s great to enjoy Explore Lincoln City with others.

Sightings of the Day

Bufflehead
Mew Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Song Sparrow
Pacific Wren
American Crow
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Marsh Wren
Ruby-crown Kinglet
Double-crested Cormorant
Steller’s Jay
European Starling
Northern Flicker
Common Raven
Spotted Towhee
Northern Harrier
Red Crossbill
Merlin
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadee
Townsend Warbler
Green-winged Teal
Red-tailed Hawk
American Robin

June 11, 2016 Salmon River Estuary: Tamara Quays and Pixieland

It was a warm morning with the sun breaking through the clouds. There were 17 of us walking along the road listening to the songs of the birds. Tamara Quays was our first stop and while we could tell the song of the Swainson's Thrush it was never in our sight until.....it decided to rest on a branch.

Sightings of the Day

Song Sparrow

Barn Swallow

Anna's Hummingbird

Swainson's Thrush

American Robin

Turkey Vulture

Pacific Wren

Wilson's Warbler

Black-headed Grosbeak

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Cedar Waxwing

Warbling Vireo

American Goldfinch

Belted Kingfisher

Common Yellowthroat

Canada Goose

American Crow

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bald Eagle

Western Wood-Pewee

Osprey

September 12, 2015 Salmon River Estuary

The morning started out with some fog but by the time we got all 12 kayaks in the water the fog lifted and the sun poked through the clouds. Which of course meant a little wind with the sun. The group paddled up the Salmon River and decided to launch and check out the birds along the western shore. While we didn't see a large number of birds it was interesting to watch the fishermen trying to hook the big one and the guys on sea kayaks twisting and turning in the Pacific. Everyone agreed that we all had a great time.

Sightings of the Day
Belted Kingfisher
Great Blue Heron
Double-crested Cormorant
Turkey Vulture
American Crow
Common Raven
Bald Eagle
Barn Swallow
Steller's Jay

September 13, 2014 Salmon River Estuary

What an absolutely beautiful morning for a kayaking trip on the Salmon River! Finding a place to park was more challenging than paddling against the current. Many fishermen and other boaters were also out enjoying the calm water.

Because the tide was going out, we decided to head toward the mouth of the Salmon rather than fight the current. Our flotilla of about 12 kayaks lazily made its way to the mouth where we exited the crafts and walked along the spit looking for shorebirds.

Sightings of the Day

Canada Goose
Double-crested Cormorant
Belted Kingfisher
Barn Swallow
Long-billed Curlew
American Crow
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Western Gull
California Gull
Pelagic Cormorant
Common Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Band-tailed Pigeon
Barn Swallow
Spotted Sandpiper

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

May 14, 2011 Bird and Photographic Walk at the Salmon River Estuary

About 20 birders gathered at Knight Park in Otis, OR, along the Salmon River estuary. There, ASLC leader Jack Doyle introduced all to the IBA (Important Bird Area) and briefly discussed bird photography. Splitting into 2 groups one remained in and around Knight Park, the other crossed Three Rocks Road and began birding the Crowley Creek meadow. After about 1/2 hour, the groups switched locations. The morning was filled with bird sightings and enjoyed by all.

Sightings of the Day
Rufous Hummingbird
Wilson's Warbler
Brandt's Cormorant
American Crow
American Robin
Bald Eagle (mature and immature)
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Western Gull
Turkey Vulture
Song Sparrow
White Crowned Sparrow
Peregrine Falcon
American Goldfinch
Swallows (Tree or Violet Green)
Great Blue Heron
Western Wood Pewee
Fox Sparrow
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Red-tailed Hawk
Common Raven
Whimbrel
Black-headed Grosbeak
Steller's Jay
Canada Goose
Band-tailed Pigeon

September 11, 2010 Salmon River Estuary (IBA)

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