June 10, 2022 Regatta Park & Devils Lake

Photo by Caren Willoughby

We did not get rained on! Trip leader, Mark Elliott led 9 birders through the woods around the Regatta Grounds. The trail was well marked and we checked out the signage along the way.  It was warm and the birds did not disappoint us. 

Bird Sightings:

Mallard
Barn Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Turkey Vulture
American Robin
Downy Woodpecker
Spotted Towhee
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
European Starling
Purple Finch
Cedar Waxwing
Anna’s Hummingbird
Red-winged Blackbird
Canada Geese

Photo by Caren Willoughby

Group shot! Photo by Caren Willoughby.

April 8, 2022 Spring Lake Open Space

It was a small group that had no problem with the weather forecast. Trip leader Mark Elliott led around Lincoln City’s Open Space Spring Lake. It was magical with wildflowers in bloom and birds singing all around us. It was a haven for Warblers! In just three words “It Was Wonderful.” We were all thankful for the well maintained trails and Parks and Recreation of Lincoln City.

American Robin photo by Ruth Shelly

Listening and looking for those Warblers.

Down the trail.

Across the bridge to watch the Canada Goose fly in.

Photo by Caren Willoughby

Are these Myosotis scorpioides (Marsh-forget-me-not) growing along the path?

Sightings of the day:

Pacific Wren
American Crow
American Robin
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Townsend Warbler
Black-throated Grey Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Osprey
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Bald Eagle
Canada Goose
Mallard
Hairy Woodpecker

Canada Goose photo by Ruth Shelly

January 8, 2022 Hatfield Marine Science Center

Photo by Ruth Shelly

What a difference a day makes! Friday was cold and miserable, but we still had 7 people enjoy the walk at Regatta Park in Lincoln City. On Saturday, the sun shone all day - while chilly, it was perfect for spotting birds on Hatfield Marine Science Center's nature trail and the South Jetty at Yaquina Bay. 17 people joined us, including our bird experts and expert photographers.

Red-throated Loon photo by Ruth Shelly

Great Blue Heron photo by Ruth Shelly

Species seen on Saturday (Yaquina Bay & South Jetty):

Eurasia Wigeon
American Wigeon
Greater Scaup
Harlequin duck
Surf scoter
White-winged Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Horned Grebe
Western Grebe
Rock Pigeon
Whimbrel
Iceland Gulls (Thayer’s)
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Western x Glaucous-winged gull (Olympic gull)
Red-throated Loon
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Brand’s Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
Steller’s Jay
American Crow
European Starling
Bewick's Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow

Western Gull photo by Ruth Shelly

February 13, 2021 Alder Island Loop Trail at Siletz Bay NWR

Weather reports were saying that this day would be the same as the day before – very cold, windy, and soaking wet. The birders who assembled for the bird walk were glad that the temp was in the high 40s rather than in the mid-30’s, and with little or no wind. As one of the walkers reported, “I think we began with 11 participants today, but ended up with nine after the one couple bailed early when the sideways rain began right as we headed out.” Those who weren’t wearing rainpants walked around with wet britches!

Birding in the rain at Alder Island, photo Joanne Daschel

We sighted a number of waterfowl species but very few woodland birds. All in all, we enjoyed ourselves and loved the beautiful new descriptive signage on the trail which was produced last year (2020) in collaboration with ASLC and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Great Blue Heron sign, photo by Ernie Rose

Sightings of the day:
Bufflehead ~ Hooded Merganser ~ Common Merganser ~ Red-breasted Merganser ~ Song Sparrow ~ Mallard ~ Common Goldeneye ~ American Robin ~ Canada Goose ~ Great Blue Heron ~ Horned Grebe ~ Double-breasted Cormorant ~ Red-winged Blackbird ~ Common Loon ~ Ruby-crowned Kinglet ~ Golden-crowned Sparrow ~ American Crow ~ Bewick’s Wren

January 9, 2021 Yaquina Bay and Yaquina River South Jetty

The day started sunny but cold for the 9 birders who gathered in the Hatfield Marine Science Center (HMSC) parking lot in Newport. Hand warmers for one of the birders weren't enough to keep his fingers from getting cold and numb. Amongst the number of species seen and photographed, the birding group was surprised to see Brant as well as a group of Marbled Godwit with Whimbrel in the mix. From HMSC, they headed over to South Jetty on the west side of Hwy 101. There they viewed a number of other species including Harlequin Duck, Horned Grebe, and Common Loon. In all, the birders counted 31 species. Great way to start the year!!

Sightings of the day:
Common Loon ~ Surf Scoter ~ Greater Scaup ~ Brandt’s Cormorant ~ American Wigeon ~ American Crow ~ Western Gull ~ Brant ~ California Gull ~ Marbled Godwit ~ Mew Gull ~ House Finch ~ Anna’s Hummingbird ~ Dark-eyed Junco ~ Yellow-rumped Warbler ~ Eurasian Collared-dove ~ Rock Pigeon ~ Northern Harrier ~ Horned Grebe ~ Red-necked Grebe ~ Red-breasted Merganser ~ Harlequin Duck ~ Belted Kingfisher ~ Pelagic Cormorant ~ Whimbrel ~ Great Blue Heron ~ Common Goldeneye ~ Bufflehead ~ Mallard ~ Pigeon Guillemot ~ Western Meadowlark

October 10, 2020 Boiler Bay to Devil's Punch Bowl

Six intrepid birders joined us to drive along the rocky shores from Boiler Bay to Devil's Punch Bowl. Trip leader Mark Elliott pointed out the sights and the birds as the weather improved from site-to-site.

Sightings of the day:
Western Grebe • Great Blue Heron • Canada Goose • Cackling Goose • Harlequin Duck • Bald Eagle • Peregrine Falcon • Black Oystercatcher • Black Turnstone • Western Gull • California Gull • Anna's Hummingbird • Steller's Jay • American Crow • Song Sparrow • Fox Sparrow

March 13, 2020 Spring Lake Open Space

Sponsored by Lincoln City Parks and Recreation and Explore Lincoln City, ten birders walked the trails around Spring Lake searching for various bird species, whether being seen or heard. About an hour into the walk the weather got progressive worse, going from light to heavy showers. And because of the rainfall, we didn't get photos of the birds we saw. Nonetheless, everyone enjoyed being outside.

Sightings of the day:
American Robin • Varied Thrush • American Crow • Golden-crowned Kinglet • Rufous Hummingbird • Spotted Towhee • Canada Goose • Stellers Jay • Red Crossbill • Ruby-crowned Kinglet • Chestnut-backed Chickadee • Pacific Wren

February 8, 2020 Hostetler Park with Devils Lake State Park

Saturday’s birdwalk began with a big question mark. Sponsored by Lincoln City Parks and Recreation, it started at Hostetler Park with trip leader Mark Elliott welcoming 31 participants. We had birders from Pacific City, Waldport, Tacoma, WA, Keizer, Brooks, Salem, Depoe Bay, Albany, Dallas, and Tillamook Community College. The weather challenged us to stay dry. We lost! We also lost entrance to the boardwalk in the direction to Devil's Lake State Park due to repairs. It didn’t take us long to realize that Devil’s Lake State Park was completely flooded and closed to everyone, so we decided that we needed to go to Regatta Park and check out the birds there. The walk through the woods and neighborhood gave us a few birds and kept the group out of high water!

Sightings of the day:
Pacific Wren
Mallard
Red-tailed Hawk
American Robin
Canada Goose
Bald Eagle
Rock Dove
Common Raven
American Crow
Bufflehead
Western Grebe
Western Gull
Lesser Scaup

January 11, 2020 OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center Nature Trail and Yaquina Bay South Jetty

12 birders that joined trip leader, Camden Bruner, got a break from the rain but did have to fight the wind. We got good looks at a variety of waterfowl but the birds of the day were the Marbled Godwits, Whimbrel, and a Eurasian Wigeon. It just proves Birding can be fun in all kinds of weather.

Sightings of the day:

American Wigeon ~ Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal ~ Surf Scoter
Bufflehead ~ Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Horned Grebe ~ Red-necked Grebe
` Rock Pigeon ~ Anna's Hummingbird
` Whimbrel ~ Marbled Godwit
Mew Gull ~ Western Gull
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Western-Glaucous-winged (hybrid)
Pacific Loon ~ Common Loon
Brandt's Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron ~ Bald Eagle
Belted Kingfisher ~ Northern Flicker
Merlin ~ American Crow
Pacific Wren ~ European Starling
Fox Sparrow ~ White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow ~ Song Sparrow

January 10, 2020 Siletz Bay: Taft Waterfront and Salishan Nature Trail

To say the weather was crazy during our Taft/Cutler City Bird Walk is an understatement. There were nine of us that forged through the wind and rain in search of birds. There weren't many to find until we turned a corner and heard bird music so loud that we could not believe what we were hearing. Following the sound we could see small flocks of Starlings and Juncos going back and forth from tree to tree. Looking further up in the sky we spotted three Bald Eagles that were upsetting the birds. We right then and there decided it was worth it. Happy ending to the rainy day!

Sightings of the day:
American Crow
Western Gull
Rock Pigeon
Dark-eyed Junco
Black- capped Chickadee
Anna's Hummingbird
Bald Eagle
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Steller's Jay
Song Sparrow