September 12, 2024 Cutler City & Siletz Bay

On a beautiful fall morning, 22 people​ gathered to enjoy a bird walk in Cutler City Wetlands. Although birds were not abundant in the forest, ripe huckleberries were found in profusion. Once we arrived at Siletz Bay, everyone's binoculars were trained on Greater Yellowlegs, Brown Pelicans, Great Blue Herons, Double-crested Cormorants, and numerous gulls. Mark Elliott enjoyed his last bird walk weekend as our fearless leader, and his first under our new name, Seven Capes Bird Alliance.

Sightings of the day:

American Crow 
Steller's Jay
European Starlings
White-crowned Sparrow 
Eurasian-collared Dove
Brown Creeper
Swallow 
Red Crossbill 
Red-winged Blackbird
Greater Yellowlegs
Turkey Vulture 
Double-crested Cormorant 
Western Gull
Brown Pelican

Greater Yellowlegs, photo by Ruth Shelly

Group at Siletz Bay by Tom Rice

Trip leader Mark Elliott with our new Seven Capes Bird Alliance sign, photo by Ruth Shelly

May 10, 2024 Cutler City Wetlands & Siletz Bay

Great Blue Heron juveniles, photo by Ruth Shelly

Cutler City was the perfect place to welcome birders from Denver, San Jose and Gresham. Right there we were greeted with the sounds of hungry juvenile Great Blue Herons. This rookery is only two years old and all 19 birders were very excited. As we walked through the wooded area, the native rhododendrons were in full bloom. The bay provided more excitement.

Birders on trail, photo by Ruth Shelly

Sightings of the day:
Wilson’s Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Great Blue Heron
Downy Woodpecker
American Crow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
European Starling
Great Egret
Osprey
Mallard
Tree Swallow
Canada Geese
American Goldfinch
Violet-green Swallow
House Sparrow
Barn Swallow
Double-crested Cormorant
Sanderling
Bald Eagle

September 8, 2023 Cutler City & Siletz Bay

ASLC’s birdwalk sponsored by Lincoln City Explorience was led by Halle Renn with 24 participants. It was a quiet walk through Cutler City Wetlands and the neighborhood. We spent time watching an Eagle and Cormorants enjoying the sun.

Sightings of the day:

Group, photo by Tom Rice

Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Cedar Waxwing
Chipmunk
Anna’s Hummingbird
Stellar’s Jay
Northern Flicker
Black-capped Chickadee
Spotted Towhee
House Finch
White-crowned Sparrow
Eurasian Collared Dove
Brewers Blackbird
American Crow
Bald Eagle
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Rufous Hummingbird
Merganser
Red-winged Blackbird
Pied-billed Grebe
Brewer’s Blackbird

January 10, 2020 Siletz Bay: Taft Waterfront and Salishan Nature Trail

To say the weather was crazy during our Taft/Cutler City Bird Walk is an understatement. There were nine of us that forged through the wind and rain in search of birds. There weren't many to find until we turned a corner and heard bird music so loud that we could not believe what we were hearing. Following the sound we could see small flocks of Starlings and Juncos going back and forth from tree to tree. Looking further up in the sky we spotted three Bald Eagles that were upsetting the birds. We right then and there decided it was worth it. Happy ending to the rainy day!

Sightings of the day:
American Crow
Western Gull
Rock Pigeon
Dark-eyed Junco
Black- capped Chickadee
Anna's Hummingbird
Bald Eagle
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Steller's Jay
Song Sparrow

December 6, 2019 Siletz Bay: The Bayhouse to Cutler City

Photos complements of Ernie Rose

Explore Lincoln City sponsored this walk starting at the Bay House. Mark Elliott led a group of 10 birders through Cutler City. The rain did not put a damper on the group’s enthusiasm. We scored a list of over 20.

View fullsize

View fullsize

Sightings of the day:
Chestnut-backed Chickadee ~ Belted Kingfisher ~ Steller's Jay
Varied Thrush ~ Ruby-crowned Kinglet ~ American Robin
Northern Flicker ~ European Starling ~ Song Sparrow
American Crow ~ Dark-eyed Junco ~ Anna's Hummingbird
Cooper's Hawk ~ European-collared Dove ~ Rock Pigeon
Bald Eagle ~ Great Blue Heron ~ Golden-crowned Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler ~ Red-winged Blackbird ~ Bufflehead
Double-crested Cormorant ~ American Wigeon ~ Surf Scoter
Common Merganser ~ Mallard ~ Gadwall ~ American Coot
Western Grebe ~ Townsend Warbler

October 11, 2019 Salishan Nature Trail (Siletz Bay)

It was a beautiful morning along the Salishan Nature Trail and the Pacific Ocean did not disappoint the 19 birders that participated. Calm seas provided the group with some nice sightings.

Sightings of the day:
Merlin ~ Spotted Towhee ~ American Crow ~ Great Blue Heron
Red-breasted Nuthatch ~ European Starling ~ Great Egret
Red-tailed Hawk ~ Song Sparrow ~ Pine Siskin
American Robin ~ Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Northern Flicker ~ Anna's Hummingbird
White-Crowned Sparrow ~ Double-crested Cormorant
Pacific Loon ~ Clark's Grebe ~ Western Grebe ~ Mallard
Marbled Murrelet ~ White-winged Scoter ~ Scaup
American Wigeon ~ American Coot

February 9, 2019 Siletz Bay - Taft Waterfront and Salishan Nature Trail

Nine birders decided to take a chance on the weather Saturday morning. Starting off at the Taft Dock we saw a beautiful Eagle swoop down and picked up its breakfast. There were Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser, Rock Pigeon, Mew Gull, Kingfisher, American Crow, and Raven on the bay. As we drove to Salishan Nature Trail we were not disappointed and were greeted by a pair of Mallards, Great Blue Heron and snow! As we walked and laughed a flock of Golden-crowned Sparrows were searching for food along with Fox and Song Sparrows. Great White Egret provided contrast in the flurry of snow and the Eagle disrupted a large flock of Pintails. Starlings and Canada Geese finished out the morning. Seeing and watching the six Bald Eagles in action was the highlight of the morning -- and the snow of course.

Thanks to Lincoln City Parks & Recreation for sponsoring!

January 18, 2019 Siletz Bay - Bay House to Cutler City

This was the first time we've met at the Bay House and walked through the Cutler City neighborhood to view the other side of the bay. There were 20 hardy souls braving the bracing weather - the wind kept the water choppy so it was hard to scope for waterfowl. From the parking lot we meandered through the neighborhood where we got some of our best birds. We ended at end south end of Fleet Street where we enjoyed two Black Turnstones, a couple of Common Loons, and a distant Bald Eagle.

Sightings of the Day

Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Horned Grebe
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Anna's Hummingbird
Black Turnstone
Western Gull
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Northern Flicker
Steller's Jay
American Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
American Robin
European Starling
House Finch
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
Townsend's Warbler

Thanks to Lincoln City Parks & Recreation for sponsoring!

October 12, 2018 Siletz Bay, Taft to Cutler City

What a beautiful day to walk with 18 birders around Cutler City and Josephine Young Park. We had visitors from Tucson, Los Angeles, and Tidewater. Among the 25 species were Red-necked Grebe, Townsend Warbler, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Surf Scoter.

Great Blue Heron photo courtesy of Ernie Rose

White-crowned Sparrow photo courtesy of Ernie Rose

Sightings of the Day

Eurasian-collard Dove
Mew Gull
Great Blue Heron
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
American Goldfinch
Fox Sparrow
European Starlings
Rock Dove
Townsend Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Northern Flicker
Anna’s Hummingbird
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
House Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Great White Egret
Bufflehead
Semipalmated Plover
Red-necked Grebe
Dark-eyed Junco
American Crow

February 10, 2018 Siletz Bay and Salishan Nature Trail

Saturday’s bird walk brought 30 birders out to enjoy sunshine and the birds. The tide was in at Siletz Bay and we were treated with a variety of birds at that location. The walk along the Salishan Nature Trail provided another opportunity to see up close more birds in the bay. Looking up directly overhead, as if on command, an immature Bald Eagle flew by to everyone’s delight.

Sightings of the Day

Canada Goose
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Pacific Loon
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed HawkMew Gull
Western Gull
Herring Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
gull sp.
Anna's Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
American Crow
Common Raven
Pacific Wren
American Robin
Varied Thrush
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Rock Pigeon