Chestnut-backed Chickadee, photo by Ruth Shelly
Unfortunately, we had to cancel our field trip to Hatfield Marine Science Center and Yaquina Bay South Jetty due to a harsh winter storm that coated the coast in ice. We rarely cancel our bird walks for weather, but for everyone’s safety, it was the right call!
21 intrepid birders showed up for our first 2023 Bird Walk. Dressed in rain gear and lead by volunteer Elizabeth Laver Holencik, they walked the trail along Yaquina Bay then drove to the South Jetty of the Yaquina River for more good birding. 32 species on the day in spite of the weather! Thanks to Ruth Shelly for the photos and to Liz for the great job leading in the rain!
Birders in the rain, photo by Ruth Shelly
Sightings of the Day:
Surf Scoters by Ruth Shelly
Pacific Loon by Ruth Shelly
Harlequin Duck by Ruth Shelly
American Wigeon
Green-winged Teal
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Whimbrel
Marbled Godwit
Black Turnstone
Least Sandpiper
Red Phalarope
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Brandt's Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
American Crow
European Starling
American Robin
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
The day started sunny but cold for the 9 birders who gathered in the Hatfield Marine Science Center (HMSC) parking lot in Newport. Hand warmers for one of the birders weren't enough to keep his fingers from getting cold and numb. Amongst the number of species seen and photographed, the birding group was surprised to see Brant as well as a group of Marbled Godwit with Whimbrel in the mix. From HMSC, they headed over to South Jetty on the west side of Hwy 101. There they viewed a number of other species including Harlequin Duck, Horned Grebe, and Common Loon. In all, the birders counted 31 species. Great way to start the year!!
Sightings of the day:
Common Loon ~ Surf Scoter ~ Greater Scaup ~ Brandt’s Cormorant ~ American Wigeon ~ American Crow ~ Western Gull ~ Brant ~ California Gull ~ Marbled Godwit ~ Mew Gull ~ House Finch ~ Anna’s Hummingbird ~ Dark-eyed Junco ~ Yellow-rumped Warbler ~ Eurasian Collared-dove ~ Rock Pigeon ~ Northern Harrier ~ Horned Grebe ~ Red-necked Grebe ~ Red-breasted Merganser ~ Harlequin Duck ~ Belted Kingfisher ~ Pelagic Cormorant ~ Whimbrel ~ Great Blue Heron ~ Common Goldeneye ~ Bufflehead ~ Mallard ~ Pigeon Guillemot ~ Western Meadowlark
12 birders that joined trip leader, Camden Bruner, got a break from the rain but did have to fight the wind. We got good looks at a variety of waterfowl but the birds of the day were the Marbled Godwits, Whimbrel, and a Eurasian Wigeon. It just proves Birding can be fun in all kinds of weather.
Sightings of the day:
American Wigeon ~ Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal ~ Surf Scoter
Bufflehead ~ Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Horned Grebe ~ Red-necked Grebe
` Rock Pigeon ~ Anna's Hummingbird
` Whimbrel ~ Marbled Godwit
Mew Gull ~ Western Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Western-Glaucous-winged (hybrid)
Pacific Loon ~ Common Loon
Brandt's Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron ~ Bald Eagle
Belted Kingfisher ~ Northern Flicker
Merlin ~ American Crow
Pacific Wren ~ European Starling
Fox Sparrow ~ White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow ~ Song Sparrow
The morning began with a heavy rain as eighteen birders made their way to the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center parking lot. Some drove up from Yachats, others traveled from as far north as Tigard and as far east as Salem and Albany. Not surprisingly, all donned rain gear in case those dark, moisture-laden clouds decided to dump on them. Like good scouts, they were all well-prepared. Field Guide, Dick Demarest, gathered the group together and began birding the shoreline of the Hatfield Center. Beginners and the more knowledgeable searched the bay with binoculars in hand, and then ID'd their sightings with the use of loaned ASLC field guides. In all, the group was not disappointed by the weather or the number of birds for all to see. Thanks to the waterfowl and birds in the bush, it proved to be a fun-filled morning.
Photos by Ernie Rose, Jack Doyle, and Jody Picconi
Sightings of the Day
White-winged Scoter
Surf Scoter
Common Golden-eye
Brandt's Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Hooded Merganser
Buffle Head
Horned Grebe
Northern Pintail
California Gull
Western Gull
Mew Gull
Brant Geese
Greater Scaup
Great Blue Heron
American Wigeon
American Crow
Red-breasted Merganser
Savannah Sparrow
Northern Flicker
European Starling
Red-winged Blackbird
Oregon Junco
Fox Sparrow
Red-shouldered Hawk
American Robin
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Song Sparrow
House Finch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
White-crowned Sparrow
Gold-crowned Sparrow
Black-Capped Chickadee
Red-necked Grebe
Harlequin Duck
Common Loon
Photos by Jack Doyle
"Great day, with 29 other birders!
We had such nice close looks
at so many of these birds,
and the red-necked grebe was a first for me."
- Laura Doyle
YAQUINA BAY BIRDS:
Rock Dove
Western Gull
California Gull
Surf Scoter
Western Grebe
Pelagic Cormorant
Bufflehead
White Scoter
American Coot
Common Loon
Brandts Cormorant
Brandt Goose
Great Blue Heron
Northern Flicker
Song Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Bewicks Wren
American Crow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Goldfinch
House Finch
White-crowned Sparrow
American Kestrel
Bald Eagle
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Bushtit
Belted Kingfisher
Common Goldeneye
SOUTH JETTY SITE:
Western Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Horned Grebe
Common Loon
Harlequin Duck
Mew Gull
Black Turnstone
Brown Pelican
Surf Scoters
Western Gull
California Gull
Sightings of the Day
American Crow
Brown Pelican
White-crowned Sparrow
Violet-green Swallow
Barn Swallow
Turkey Vulture
Immature Bald Eagle
Brandt's Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Pigeon Guillemot
Western Gull
Black Oystercatcher
Common Raven
Common Murre
