Belted Kingfisher by Ruth Shelly
It was a bright, sunny day for a bird walk on the beach! We started with a walk through the woods along the creek where we saw a great variety of nesting songbirds including warblers and swallows. We then moved on to the beach where we looked for wading shorebirds.
Birders on trail by Ruth Shelly
Birders on the beach by Ruth Shelly
Birders resting and taking in the views after a steep climb up to The Knoll by Ruth Shelly
We had 8 people total (2 from the class, Jane and Cindy, and one from the Osprey project, Juliette, and 5 Audubon folks).
Bird list:
Wilson's warbler
Steller's jay
Pacific slope flycatcher
Warbling vireo
Golden-crowned kinglet
Crow
American robin
Pacific wren
Black-headed grosbeak
Brandt's cormorant
Brown pelican
Eurasian collared dove
Surf scoter
Mark Elliott walked 21 birders through the beautiful Cutler City Open Space. It was a warm and pleasant morning. Participants were delighted to see the native rhododendron in full bloom. While listening and looking for birds it’s also an opportunity to make new friends.
Sightings of the day:
Birders on trail at Cutler City Open Space
Great Blue Heron
Canada Geese
Wilson’s Warbler
Blackheaded Grosbeak
Bushtit
American Robin
Tree swallow
European Starling
Common Merganser
White-crowned Sparrow
Black-capped Chickadee
Violet-green Swallow
Vaux’s Swift
Dark-eyed Junco
Orange-crowned Warbler
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
House Sparrow
Rhododendrons in bloom
Birders on trail by Tom Rice
The variety of coastal habitats teemed with life as we followed the trail that winds through tidal flats, saltwater marshes, and forested wetlands to the ocean. It was a beautiful day, and we spotted lots of songbirds and shorebirds along the way.
Birders on the beach by Tom Rice
Birders on the beach by Tom Rice
The rain held off while 26+birders joined, Mark Elliott for the Audubon walk. This walk provides a variety of birds and a beautiful close up look at the signs of Spring.
Aleutian Geese by Ruth Shelly
Sightings of the day:
Travelers/Lesser/Cackling/Aleutian Geese
Green-winged Teal
American Wigeon
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Anna’s Hummingbird
Kingfisher
Great-blue Heron
American Robin
Canada Jay
Bufflehead
Song Sparrow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Barn Owl
Pacific Wren by Ruth Shelly
Birders doing what they do best by Caren Willoughby
The Village birdwalk didn’t disappoint 17 people that joined leader, Mark Elliott on a walk through the woods. Most of the participants were new to the area and were excited to learn about Lincoln City’s Open Spaces. The walk gave us a chance to observe the following species:
Trip leader Mark Elliott with a spotting scope by Caren Willoughby
Stellar’s Jay
American Robin
American Crow
Dark-eyed Junco
Varied Thrush
Pacific Wren
Rufous and Anna’s Hummingbirds
Song Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
White-crowned Sparrow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Mallard
Canada Geese
Bushit
Eurasian-collared Dove
Red-winged Blackbird
Ruby and Golden-crowned Kinglets
Saturday, March 11, was a great day to get out and enjoy nature. Spring Lake is an amazing walk through the woods and 17 birders pointed out signs of spring and watched and listened for birds.
Birders on trail by Caren Willoughby
Sightings of the day:
Mossy nest by Caren Willoughby
Canada Geese
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Stellar’s Jay
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Robin
Pacific Wren
Anna’s Hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Townsend’s Warbler by Caren Willoughby
Birders at Friends of Wildwood by Caren Willoughby
The morning was cold and clear and the woods were quiet... 22 people joined Audubon Society of Lincoln City group leaders dawn villaescusa and Caren Willoughby on a birdwalk adventure through Friends of the Wildwood Open Space in Lincoln City last Saturday, sponsored by Lincoln City Parks & Recreation.
The birds were scarce for the first half of the walk - we heard a few, but had no sightings. Several of us got out our phones to try the new sound identification on the Merlin app. It picked out a Pacific Wren (which we all could hear singing), Brown Creeper, and Red Crossbills.
At the end of the trail, we turned around to head back - and found the birds that we had missed! Flocks of small songbirds - chickadees, kinglets, and even a Townsend's Warbler - tripped around the tops of bare deciduous branches. Looking at a Northern Flicker, we happened to spot a Downy Woodpecker high in the canopy.
Once out of the woods, we wandered down to the boardwalk for a look at the wetlands, then crossed the street to get better views of the lake - where we saw Pied-billed Grebes, Bufflehead, and several distant ducks.
Sightings of the day:
Birders on trail by Ruth Shelly
22 Species observed
Canada Goose
Mallard
Bufflehead
Pied-billed Grebe
Anna's Hummingbird
Bald Eagle
Northern Flicker
Hutton's Vireo
Steller's Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren
European Starling
American Robin
Red Crossbill
Song Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Townsend's Warbler
Ruby-crowned Kinglet by Ruth Shelly
Yellow-rumped Warbler by Ruth Shelly
21 intrepid birders showed up for our first 2023 Bird Walk. Dressed in rain gear and lead by volunteer Elizabeth Laver Holencik, they walked the trail along Yaquina Bay then drove to the South Jetty of the Yaquina River for more good birding. 32 species on the day in spite of the weather! Thanks to Ruth Shelly for the photos and to Liz for the great job leading in the rain!
Birders in the rain, photo by Ruth Shelly
Sightings of the Day:
Surf Scoters by Ruth Shelly
Pacific Loon by Ruth Shelly
Harlequin Duck by Ruth Shelly
American Wigeon
Green-winged Teal
Greater Scaup
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Western Grebe
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Whimbrel
Marbled Godwit
Black Turnstone
Least Sandpiper
Red Phalarope
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Brandt's Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
American Crow
European Starling
American Robin
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
We had blue skies and plenty of action for 23 birders on our Explorience walk. The hawks were out in numbers and so were the smaller birds trying to chase them off. As the walk continued we saw a variety of birds in the trees. The fact that it was sunny made us all happy.
Sightings of the Day:
Rough-legged Hawk
Bald Eagle
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Greater Yellowlegs
Belted Kingfisher
Raven
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Mew Gull
Western Gull
Pied-bill Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Pelagic Cormorant
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Townsend Warbler
Brown Creeper
Hummingbird
Common Merganser
Surf Scoter
European Starling
Stellar’s Jay
Northern Flicker
American Robin
American Crow
