August 12, 2023 Alder Island Loop Nature Trail

Group and spotting scope, photo by Ruth Shelly

It was a beautiful morning for a bird walk and a total of 45 people thought so too. We were able to see some interesting bird behaviors as we walked along the trail, including a juvenile Osprey feeding on a fish it caught.

Bird sightings included:

Osprey by Ruth Shelly

Cedar Waxwing
House Finch
Osprey
Canada Geese
Goldfinch
Great Blue Heron
American Robin
American Crow
Turkey Vulture
Mallard
Purple Martin
Double Crested Cormorant
Western Gull
Tree swallow
Song Sparrow
European Starling
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Barn Swallow
Common Raven

Osprey by Ruth Shelly

July 8, 2023 Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area

Brandt’s Cormorants with chicks, photo by Ruth Shelly

Yaquina Head in July never disappoints! We enjoyed watching colonies of nesting seabirds including Common Murres, Brandt’s and Pelagic Cormorants, and Pigeon Guillemots. A great time was had by all who attended!

Turkey Vulture and Common Murres, photo by Ruth Shelly

Birders at Yaquina Head, photo by Ruth Shelly

July 7, 2023 Nesika Park

Caren Willoughby assisting a young birder with the spotting scope, photo by Ruth Shelly

28 birders strong, we began our walk by observing the resident Osprey nest near Nesika Park. We were lucky to see all three juveniles with both adults at the nest! We then continued on to the Nesika Park trail to search for songbirds in the forest and wetlands. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed sharing the love of birding with the next generation of birders!

Adult female and juvenile Ospreys on the nest, photo by Ruth Shelly

Birders on trail, photo by Ruth Shelly

June 10, 2023 Ona Beach & Beavercreek

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

June 9, 2023 The Knoll

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

May 12, 2023 Cutler City Open Space

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

May 13, 2023 Sitka Sedge State Natural Area

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

April 8, 2023 Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge

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

April 7, 2023 The Villages and Roads End

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

March 11, 2023 Spring Lake Open Space

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