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

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

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

October 15, 2013 Beaver Creek State Natural Area

Leaving Lincoln City this morning to head for the Beaver Creek waterway field trip was a bit concerning. It was raining! But, those who live along the coast know about micro-climates and are aware that the weather could be totally different from one location to another. We were optimistc that the rain would stop when we arrived at Beaver Creek, located midway between Newport and Waldport. Sure enough, the rain had stopped and there were patches of blue sky in-between the big puffy clouds. Yeeesssss!!!! As the birders arrived, they backed up to the put-in and dispatched their watercrafts. 14 birders, led by Dawn Grafe-Harris, USFWS, (newly furloughed, by the way) and ASLC field guide Mark Elliott, were ready to enjoy a lazy paddling upriver as they kept their eyes alert for sighting birds. Before all were ready, a mature bald eagle flew low right over us . . . and not one photographer was fast enough to capture its image! Gathering in a watery circle, introductions were made and all were amazed to learn that a newly transplanted New Englander was amongst the group. Around the first bend a Great Blue Heron was sighted atop an old snag tree and around a couple of more bends a Great Egret flew from the river grass and brush ahead. A Cooper's Hawk swooped down into the grass bank. But the greatest surprise to all were the number of Nutrias eyeing us from the banks as we paddled past each of them . . . about 30 or more!! Meanwhile, the sprinkling of rain turned into a shower which then turned into a heavy shower which made it near impossible to take photos of our outing. As the watercrafts were beginning to fill with rainwater, it was decided to turn around and head back to land. And, wouldn't you know it! When we arrived back where we had started, the rainfall had stopped! Ugh!!!

Sightings of the Day
Bald Eagle
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Mallard
Northern Harrier
Short-billed Dowitcher
Belted Kingfisher
Pied-billed Grebe
Red-tailed Hawk
American Robin
Marsh Wren
American Crow
Song Sparrow

September 14, 2013 Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon

Interesting. The weather at Baskett Slough was no different than on the coast. Drizzly, cloudy, somewhere between cool and cold. The big difference was that there was very little water at the Slough, unlike the coast!! It's our guess that that was caused by the very dry summer and the opening of the dam on the north side of the road. Yet, none of the conditions deterred the 13 attending birders from enjoying the refuge and its offerings. This time, there was not a great presence of birds although 27 species were identified. Hard to believe that we didn't even see one Song Sparrow or chickadee!!

Sightings of the Day
Bald Eagle
Western Scrub Jay
Barn Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
American Crow
Mallard
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Turkey Vulture
Mourning Dove
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Brewer's Blackbird
Bewick's Wren
White Pelican
Northern Harrier
Killdeer
Red-tailed Hawk
Least Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Cedar Waxwing
European Starling
Greater Yellowlegs
Long-billed Dowitcher
American Kestrel
Belted Kingfisher

Nutria family of six
Garden Spiders
Black-tailed Deer

August 10, 2013 Bird Walk at Bayocean Spit, Tillamook, Oregon

This year's bird walk at Bayocean came with a few surprises. Generally, our field trips begin at 9am. Last year's trip to Bayocean began at that time, but the tide was not right so we made up for it this year. We counted about twice as many birders this year over last year. Including 4 guides, twenty-nine birders gathered in the Spit's parking lot at 2pm when the tide was coming in rather than going out. That brought the shorebirds closer to us along the bank of the spit. Immediately, a young Brown-headed Cowbird was bold enough to let the birders get quite close to it, which delighted the photographers in the group. Flying over the group were gulls, terns, cormorants, and swallows. In the nearby mudflats were geese, gulls, plovers, and yellowlegs. After traveling about 1/4 to 1/3 distance to the end of the spit, most of the birders turned around and split into separate groups, some wanting to get back soon to the mudflats before the tide was completely in, others heading over to the ocean side, and a few others continuing ahead a bit further before returning back to the parking lot. Back at the cars, several folks were chatting when 3 immature Bald Eagles flew over offering perfect photo opportunities. All in all, it was once again a very enjoyable bird trip!

Sightings of the Day
Brandt Goose
Brown-headed Cowbird
Caspian Tern
Whimbrel
California Gull
Great Blue Heron
Savannah Sparrow
Double-crested Cormorant
Ring-billed Gull
Cedar Waxwing
Barn Swallow
Semipalmated Plover
Lesser Yellowlegs
Greater Yellowlegs
Belted Kingfisher
Black Capped Chickadee

And those that stayed longer…..

Brown Pelican
Pacific Loon
Common Murre
American Crow
Wrentit
White Crowned Sparrow
Western Gull
Bald Eagle