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
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