April 13, 2019 Two Rivers Nature Trail, Nestucca Bay NWR

Fifteen people joined ASLC field trip leader Mark Elliott at Nestucca National Wildlife Refuge to walk the new Two Rivers Nature Trail. The weather was cool, grey, and drizzly and we all got a bit damp, but it was well worth it. The newly opened section of the refuge meanders through woods full of fern, flowers, and massive trees.

One spot had remnants of a garden, complete with a large Magnolia tree. It was our birdiest spot, with warblers, thrush, chickadees, and kinglets all singing and flitting from tree to tree.

At the two-rivers lookout, we stopped and admired the view, spotting waterfowl such as Common Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser along with a couple of Great Egrets. All-told we saw or heard 38 species!

Rufous Hummingbird photo complements of Ernie Rose

Sightings of the day:
Cackling Goose ~ Canada Goose ~ Wood Duck
Mallard ~ Green-winged Teal ~ Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye ~ Red-breasted Merganser
Band-tailed Pigeon ~ Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird ~ Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron ~ Great Egret ~ Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier ~ Bald Eagle ~ Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher ~ Steller's Jay ~ American Crow
Common Raven ~ Tree Swallow ~ Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee ~ Brown Creeper ~ Pacific Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet ~ Ruby-crowned Kinglet ~ Varied Thrush
American Robin ~ European Starling ~ Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow ~ Song Sparrow ~ Spotted Towhee
Orange-crowned Warbler ~ Townsend's Warbler

March 9, 2019 Tillamook Raptor Survey

Eleven people met at Fred Meyer in Tillamook for our first raptor survey. We carpooled around a set route with expert leader Jimmy Robert Billstine. We modeled our survey after the official Winter Raptor Survey surveys, which are held throughout the Pacific Northwest. We took parts from two of the Tillamook surveys and created a map and a survey sheet. Starting at Goodspeed Rd, we drove a little over 20 miles in our two-hour timeframe, enjoying a wonderful mix of raptors.

Survey Results
Red-tailed Hawk: 12
American Kestrel: 7
Northern Harrier: 3
Bald Eagle: 6 adults, 2 sub-adults
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Peregrine Falcon: 2
Rough-legged Hawk: 1

Raptor photos complements of Ernie Rose

March 8, 2019 Hostetler Park (D River) and Devil's Lake State Park

It was a cold and rainy morning for a bird walk at Hostetler Park and our trip leader, Mark Elliott, predicted there would be two additional birders that would show up. He was pleasantly surprised that there was a total of 16 that wanted to search this area for birds. Some were surprised that this little park was hidden within our city! We saw 23 species including, a first for many, Lincoln’s Sparrow!

Thanks to Lincoln City Parks & Recreation for sponsoring!

Sightings of the Day

Mallard

American Crow

Bufflehead

Common Raven

American Robin

Steller’s Jay

Song Sparrow

Ring-necked Duck

Canada Goose

Northern Flicker

Western Gull

Rock Pigeon

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Dark-eyed Junco

Fox Sparrow

Lincoln’s Sparrow

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Violet-green Swallow

Greater Scaup

Ruddy Duck

Hummingbird sp.

Spotted Towhee

February 9, 2019 Siletz Bay - Taft Waterfront and Salishan Nature Trail

Nine birders decided to take a chance on the weather Saturday morning. Starting off at the Taft Dock we saw a beautiful Eagle swoop down and picked up its breakfast. There were Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser, Rock Pigeon, Mew Gull, Kingfisher, American Crow, and Raven on the bay. As we drove to Salishan Nature Trail we were not disappointed and were greeted by a pair of Mallards, Great Blue Heron and snow! As we walked and laughed a flock of Golden-crowned Sparrows were searching for food along with Fox and Song Sparrows. Great White Egret provided contrast in the flurry of snow and the Eagle disrupted a large flock of Pintails. Starlings and Canada Geese finished out the morning. Seeing and watching the six Bald Eagles in action was the highlight of the morning -- and the snow of course.

Thanks to Lincoln City Parks & Recreation for sponsoring!

January 18, 2019 Siletz Bay - Bay House to Cutler City

This was the first time we've met at the Bay House and walked through the Cutler City neighborhood to view the other side of the bay. There were 20 hardy souls braving the bracing weather - the wind kept the water choppy so it was hard to scope for waterfowl. From the parking lot we meandered through the neighborhood where we got some of our best birds. We ended at end south end of Fleet Street where we enjoyed two Black Turnstones, a couple of Common Loons, and a distant Bald Eagle.

Sightings of the Day

Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Horned Grebe
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Anna's Hummingbird
Black Turnstone
Western Gull
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Northern Flicker
Steller's Jay
American Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
American Robin
European Starling
House Finch
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
Townsend's Warbler

Thanks to Lincoln City Parks & Recreation for sponsoring!

January 12, 2019 Hatfield Marine Science Center Nature Trail and South Jetty

25 people enjoyed this walk along the Hatfield Marine Science Center Nature Trail, enjoying a wide variety of birds. The air was chilly with a cool breeze and no rain(!) We were treated to a diving Belted Kingfisher, a pair of adult Bald Eagles sitting on the mudflats, a tree full of Great Blue Herons (more than a dozen!), and much more. There was so much activity that the nature trail took up two hours, so several had to leave before the trip to the South Jetty. There, the remaining birders enjoyed a variety of loons and other seabirds.

Photos complements of Marlene Stellato

Sightings of the Day

Brant
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Northern Pintail
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Eared Grebe
Western Grebe
Rock Pigeon
Anna's Hummingbird
Western Gull
Pelagic Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
American Crow
Common Raven
American Robin
House Finch
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler

December 1, 2018 Salishan Nature Trail

Well, it rained. It poured. We all got wet. But we had fun, and by the time we reached the beach, the rain had stopped - and it was blue skies when we got back to the bay. All but one of the group of eleven birders were central coast locals, with one visitor from La Grande. The tide was in, which meant the herons and egrets were on the far side of the bay, but we got good looks at the wintering waterfowl.

In spite of conditions, we saw an amazing 28 species! While scanning a flock of American Wigeon looking for an elusive Eurasian Wigeon, trip leader Mark Elliott pointed out a Northern Harrier over the marsh. As we watched, Mark spotted a Bald Eagle approaching -- followed by a Red-tailed Hawk! An exciting experience! Special thanks to Explore Lincoln City for sponsoring the event.

Sightings of the Day

Gadwall
American Wigeon
Northern Pintail
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Anna's Hummingbird
Sanderling
Mew Gull
Western Gull
gull sp.
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Northern Harrier
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Varied Thrush
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Yellow-rumped Warbler

November 10, 2018 Salmon River at Knight Park

Photo compliments of Ernie Rose

After a rainy night the sun came out for the 20 birders that wanted to check out the birds a Knight Park. It’s always fun to meet enthusiastic birders and enjoy that time with them. It’s great to enjoy Explore Lincoln City with others.

Sightings of the Day

Bufflehead
Mew Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Song Sparrow
Pacific Wren
American Crow
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Marsh Wren
Ruby-crown Kinglet
Double-crested Cormorant
Steller’s Jay
European Starling
Northern Flicker
Common Raven
Spotted Towhee
Northern Harrier
Red Crossbill
Merlin
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadee
Townsend Warbler
Green-winged Teal
Red-tailed Hawk
American Robin

October 27, 2018 Friends of Wildwood Trail and Boardwalk

After a night of wind and heavy rains, blue skies greeted 19 birders for a walk on the Friends of Wildwood trail and nearby neighborhood. Birders from as far Victoria, Arizona, and California joined us.

Sightings of the Day

Black-capped Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Double-crested Cormorant
Pied-billed Grebe
American Crow
Steller’s Jay
Song Sparrow
Cedar Waxwing
American Robin
Bufflehead
Common Raven
Lesser Scaup
Canada Geese
American Coot
Western Gull
Common Merganser
Northern Flicker

October 13, 2018 Boiler Bay to Rocky Creek

Birds and whales were sighted in 17 pairs of binoculars starting at Boiler Bay. We had birders from Fort Worth, Texas and White Salmon, Washington who spotted several life birds (birds they had never seen before).

Sightings of the Day

Surf Scoter
American Crow
Western Gull
Black Oystercatcher
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Common Murre
Black Turnstone
Bald Eagle
Mew Gull
Great Blue Heron
White-winged Scoter
Pacific Loon
Red-throated Grebe
Brown Pelican
Pelagic Cormorant
Surf Scoter
White-crowned Sparrow
Hummingbird sp.
European Starling
Surfbird
Whales, whales and more whales