Sightings of the Day
Great Egret
Double-crested Cormorant
Clay-colored Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Belted Kingfisher
Great Blue Heron
Western Grebe
Peregrine Falcon
American Robin
American Crow
Common Raven
Common Merganser
Western Gull
Varied Thrush
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed (Oregon) Junco
Golden-crowned Kinglet
European Starling
Brewer's Blackbird
Savannah Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Thayer's Gull
California Gull
Northern Pintail
Steller's Jay
Northern Flicker
Purple Finch
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Cackling Goose
Mallard
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-winged Blackbird
Brush Rabbit
Douglas Squirrel
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
August 9, 2014 Bayocean Spit/Tillamook Bay
It was a beautiful day, if a bit windy at the start, for a bird walk along the water. There were 18 people who joined us. A couple having just moved to Rockaway from Idaho, and someone from Tacoma, and Olympia, Washington enjoyed birding in a new area. It was nice to be able to share this time with them. Our leaders Dick Demarest, and Jack Hurt did an amazing job of helping the group identify those shore birds that we were hoping to see.
Sightings of the Day
Canada Geese
Double-crested Cormorant
Barn Swallow
Tree Swallow
Ring-billed Gull
House Finch
Pelagic Cormorant
Western Gull
American Crow
Cedar Waxwing
Western Sandpiper
Semipalmated Plover
Song Sparrow
American Robin
Purple Finch
Great Blue Heron
Least Sandpiper
Wrentit
Dark-eyed Junco
European Starling
July 12, 2014 Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area
Due to the inversion effect which is caused by very high temperatures in the valley, we kinda guessed that our Yaquina Head bird walk was going to be fogbound. And sure enough it was for the 23 birders who gathered at the Interpretive Center of the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area just north of Newport. A White-crowned Sparrow greeted everyone even though the early fog kept all from any hope of seeing the resident Peregrine Falcon family. So, trip leader Mark Elliott and fellow field guide Dick Demarest led the group on a walk to the lighthouse. Nested Pelagic Cormorant chicks were viewed crying for food from their parent, Pigeon Guillemots were paddling the water, gulls and Turkey Vultures were patiently waiting for their next meal, and an immature Bald Eagle sat motionlessly perched in a nearby tree hoping the damn gull would quit diving at it. Eggs were found nearby which were already opened by marauders, and the viewing scopes pinpointed locations of Cormorant and Western Gull fledglings. Having returned back to the Interpretive Center parking lot, all got to finally see a Peregrine fly and land on the cliff edge directly in front of them. A lucky few birders were able to photo the falcon as it flew from one spot to another. Although all could see the falcon, the fog was still too dense to get a great photograph of the bird. Nonetheless, all birders left pleased with what they had experienced. Ahh, another enjoyable experience!
Sightings of the Day
White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Barn Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Crow
Common Raven
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Osprey
Peregrine Falcon
Western Gull
Brandt’s Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Pigeon Guillemot
Common Murre
Brown Pelican
Black Oystercatcher
June 14, 2014 Tamara Quays and Pixieland
24 birders enjoyed an easy and pleasant walk just north of Lincoln City. Both Tamara Quays and Pixieland had undergone extensive restoration to bring them back to their original state of being. Thirty-four species were sighted during the morning. Bald Eagle made a couple of appearances, and a variety of swallows constantly buzzed the sky for their next meals. Wood Duck, Willow Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo and other not-often-seen birds surprised the birders with their appearances. A very enjoyable birdwalk it was, indeed!
Sightings of the Day
Common Raven
Wilson Warbler
European Starling
Eurasian Dove
Great Blue Heron
Black-headed Grosbeak (heard)
Marsh Wren (heard)
Swainson's Thrush (heard)
Song Sparrow
Belted Kingfisher
American Robin
American Crow
Common Yellowthroat
Rufous Hummingbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Black-capped Chickadee (heard)
Mallard
Red-winged Blackbird
White-crowned Sparrow
Cedar Waxwing
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Wood Duck
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Willow Flycatcher
Brewer's Blackbird
Warbling Vireo
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Double-crested Cormorant
May 10, 2014 Lincoln City Open Spaces
Photos ©2014 Nagi Aboulenein
April 12, 2014 Siletz Bay Natural Wildlife Refuge
It was a great day for birding, especially for Siletz Bay. Not much wind at all. Sunny and nice. We had a great turn out, with people from Eugene, Laughlin NV and Portland. I think we had over 20 people. Laura and Jack did a great job on the walk. Jack Hurt was there for back up info. The field trip started at the Salishan Market parking lot. We walked the foot path that runs along Siletz Bay. The tide was coming tide so a lot of the birds we saw were a little far out. We saw Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, Whimbrels, Rufous Hummingbird, and Laura spotted a "Black-legged Kittiwake. " Jack Hurt said it was a bird you don't normally see along the shore. You see that bird more out in the ocean.
Some of us stopped at Siletz Keys on the way home from the field trip. We saw a sweet little Marsh Wren that was just carrying on . . . singing a loud, vibrant song. We think it might have been telling another wren to stay away. Whatever its reasons, we really didn't care, it was just cool to listen. I wish I had recorded it. I did get to see him, just before he flew away. Not quick enough to photo though. Laura and Caren saw him and commented on his tail sticking up. When I finely got a glimpse of the little guy, they were right, his tail was sticking straight up and I mean straight up... It was pretty funny to see. So he was either showing off to a damsel or shooing away a rival. The photo of the "Osprey" was at Siletz Quay. The others are from the field trip.
(As reported by Jody Picconi)
March 8, 2014 Seal Rock Wayside Park
The day before this walk, the weather was absolutely beautiful with full sun and temps in the 60s. Today threatened rain. Fortunately, the rain held off till after our Saturday morning bird walk along the coast south of Newport. About 20 birders gathered at the Seal Rock Park Wayside to sight as many coastal birds as we could see. At the overlook, the scenery was more impressive than the count of birds. The black volcanic outcroppings stood stark against the whiteness of the crashing waves. From there we drove south about a quarter mile and gathered at a pull off for another viewing perspective. There we saw Surf Scoters, Black Oystercatchers, and a Whimbrel. A Pacific Loon was also foraging along the surf. We then traveled about another half mile and took a road that led us closer to the beach. ASLC member Caren Willoughby put aside all our fears of this possibly being our 2nd bird walk in 3-4 years where we hadn't seen a Bald Eagle. Ah hah, she saw one in the distant sky flying over the beach south of us! Down on the beach, we saw Black Oystercatchers, Pelagic Cormorants, Surf Birds, and a Harlequin Duck. All in all, we once again had a very pleasurable experience in the company of wonderful people, mild weather, and birds that gave us joy in their presence. (The last 5 birds listed were seen to/from Seal Rock.)
Sightings of the Day
Pelagic Cormorant
Surf Scoter
Whimbrel
Black Oystercatcher
Song Sparrow
American Crow
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
American Robin
European Starling
Bald Eagle
Black Turnstone
Surfbird
Harlequin Duck
Common Loon
Common Raven
Hooded Merganser
Eared Grebe
Long-tailed Duck
Lesser Scaup
American Coot
January 11, 2014 OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center Nature Trail, Newport
It was raining in Lincoln City but when we arrived in Newport the sky opened up. Nonetheless, those who had full raingear put it on anyway. Even though there were only 6 of us crazy enough to weather the storm, we had a fun time sighting about 25 birds in the sky and on the water. Let's get Jody's point of view on the morning: "Hi all ... We missed some of you today, and boy, what a day. It was a little brisk and windy but, NO RAIN, (mostly). We had coffee 'n donuts to start the day. Of the 6 birders we had today . . . that's right, 6 . . . of the 6 birders today, 3 were experts. We saw a nice variety of water birds. Brandt, Eared Grebe, Loon, King (queen) eider, Oystercatchers, gulls, N. Harrier, and of course, Ernie's eagle. Just to name a few. Thank you Mark for being our fearless leader. You did a great job as usual. Thank you Laura for keeping track of the birds we saw. Thank you Ernie for your excellent spotting. Thank you Eric and Chuck for your expertise and identifying what we were seeing. Thank you me for coffee and donuts. I don't think I left anyone out. Nope, that's all 6 of us! "Here are a few photos taken today. The King Eider was hard to photograph but we, and others present from the Portland Audubon Society, witnessed its presence amongst the Black Scoters and Surf Scoters.
Sightings of the Day
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Glaucous-winged Gull
Western Gull
Mew Gull
King Eider (female)
Surf Scoter
Black Scoter
Western Grebe
Eared Grebe
Horned Grebe
Pelagic Cormorant
Bufflehead
American Coot
Common Loon
Red-necked Phalarope
Brant
Great Blue Heron
Harlequin Duck
California Gull
Northern Pintail
Lesser Scaup
Greater Scaup
Hooded Merganser
Black Oystercatcher
Ruddy Duck
American Wigeon
Eurasian Wigeon
American Crow
European Starling
