June 27, 2015 The Knoll at Roads End Open Space

Trip leader, Mark Elliott, and a sweet looking deer greeted the group of 12 birders. The weather was slightly overcast as we proceeded to make our way through the trees to the top of the Knoll. It was an excellent time to sharpen bird identification by ear because of the canopy that the trees provided. Once on top we were rewarded with an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean, Lincoln City, and Devil's Lake.
It was a 'wish you were there' moment.

Sightings of the Day
American Goldfinch
Great Blue Heron
American Crow
White-crowned Sparrow
American Robin
Black-headed Grosbeak
Swainson's Thrush
Orange-crowned Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Steller's Jay
Red Crossbill
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Hermit Warbler
Gray Jay
Hairy Woodpecker
Double-crested Cormorant
Rufus Hummingbird
Glaucous-winged Gull
Brown Pelican
Cedar Waxwing
Brown-headed Cowbird

June 13, 2015 Tamara Quays and Pixieland

It was a blue-sky morning for this bird walk and the 31 birders who joined trip leader, Mark Elliott. The group moved quietly along Frazier Road stopping often to listen to the calls from a variety of birds and while some were identified by sounds others came out of the trees for a good look. The meadow was at it’s best and opened the sky up for us to get a good view at a small group of Great Blue Herons and Osprey. The group then traveled to Pixieland for more birding.

Sightings of the Day
Turkey Vulture
Pacific Wren
Wilson's Warbler
Steller's Jay
Barn Swallow
Swainson's Thrush
Band-tailed Pigeon
Cedar Waxwing
Song Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
American Robin
American Goldfinch
Osprey
Rufus Hummingbird
Common Yellowthroat
Great Blue Heron
American Crow
Spotted Towhee
Barn Owl
White-crowned Sparrow
Western Wood-Pewee
Brown-headed Cowbird
Northern Flicker
Bushtit
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Violet-green Swallow
Red-tailed Hawk

June 12, 2015 Devil's Lake State Park/D River Open Space

A group of 16 birders gathered together to participate in our morning walk. It was a sunny morning with a slight breeze. The sound of birds was promising as we started down the boardwalk and through Devil’s Lake State Park. This area has a variety of habitat and we weren't disappointed during our walk.

Sightings of the Day
Cedar Waxwing
Song Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Barn Swallow
American Crow
Spotted Towhee
Rufus Hummingbird
Black-headed Grosbeak
American Robin
Turkey Vulture
Red-winged Blackbird
Steller's Jay
Brown-headed Cowbird
Eurasian-collared Dove
Common Loon
Osprey
Western Gull
Violet-green Swallow
Warbling Vireo
European Starling
Wilson's Warbler
White-crowned Sparrow

May 21, 2015 Cutler City Wetlands Open Space & Josephine Young Memorial Park

There were 10 of us on the walk this morning and what a treat. Nature embraced us everywhere. What an interesting, mossy location! Interestingly, we heard many birds but very few showed themselves. The small birds flittered around so fast, faster than we could either ID or photograph them. It was a very enjoyable walk with tall, wild rhodedendrons and other interesting flora. The walk ended at Josephine Young Memorial Park where 5 immature eagles and an osprey were seen during a very low tide.

Sightings of the Day
Varied Thrush
Steller's Jay
American Robin
American Crow
Rufus and Anna's Hummingbird
Nuthatch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Swainson's Thrush
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
European Starling
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Song Sparrow
Canada Goose
Great Blue Heron
Orange-crowned Warbler
Spotted Towhee
White-crowned Sparrow
Bald Eagle
Osprey
Eurasian-collared Dove
American Goldfinch

March 14, 2015 Seal Rock State Recreation Site

Wheww, what a morning! The rain and the wind were insistent on crashing down and around the 9 folks who came to Seal Rock for a morning of birding. Although we got pretty soaked and chilled, the experience was laughable because it reminded this writer of young kids sloshing through mud puddles in the rain! The song birds were smarter than us by hunkering down in this weather. We saw quite a few seals (thus the name Seal Rock, eh?!), crows, gulls, and sea birds. The Harlequin Ducks, Black Turnstones, Surfbirds, and a Peregrine Falcon were the hits of the day. All in all, yes we were soaked but we left with smiles on our faces!!

Sightings of the Day
Western Gull
Pelagic Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Brown Pelican
Black Oystercatcher
American Crow
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Black Turnstone
Surfbird
Peregrine Falcon
Mourning Dove
Steller's Jay
Junco
Song Sparrow

February 14, 2015 Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Sightings of the Day
Steller's Jay
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Anna's Hummingbird
Bald Eagle
Great Blue Heron
American Crow
Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Pacific Wren
Hutton’s Vireo
Downy Woodpecker
Tundra Bean Goose
Dusky Goose
Mallards
Red-winged Blackbird
Prairie Falcon
European Starlings
Brewer's Blackbird
Great Egret
American Robin
Hooded Merganser
Killdeer

January 11, 2015 OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center Nature Trail, Newport

It was a wet and cold morning at the Marine Hatfield Science Center parking lot, but 13 folks decided to brave the elements. Field guide Mark Elliott was quick to find birds in his scope on the Yaquina Bay. After walking the trail we headed over to the south jetty to add a few more birds to our list.

Sightings of the Day

Great Egret

American Coot

Northern Harrier

Western Gull

Bald Eagle

Pelagic Cormorant

Surf Scoter

Bufflehead

Song Sparrow

Horned Grebe

Great Blue Heron

Hooded Merganser

Red-necked Grebe

American Crow

Northern Pintail

Lesser Scaup

Greater Scaup

European Starling Brandt

American Wigeon

Ring-necked Duck

Western Meadowlark

Northern Flicker

Red-shouldered Hawk

Dark-eyed Junco

Pine Siskin

House Finch

Rock Pigeon

Anna's Hummingbird

White-crowned Sparrow

American Goldfinch

Varied Thrush

Red-breasted Merganser

Common Merganser

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Black Turnstone

Harlequin Duck

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Mew Gull

Pigeon Guillemot

Marbled Murrelet

Barn Swallow

October 11, 2014 Clay Myers State Natural Area at Whalen Island

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