December 11, 2010 Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge (IBA)

Whew, the day was definitely for the ducks . . . with gusting winds and sheets of rain showering the land, drenching every square inch of any surface exposed to the elements. A perfect day to stay indoors, sitting by the fire, comfortably content reading a book and sipping tea or hot chocolate. Ah yes! But . . . oh no . . . eight diehard birders from Otis and Lincoln City climbed in their chariots and headed to the Nestucca Wildlife Refuge in Cloverdale. Meeting at the parking lot, they climbed into 2 vehicles (4 in each) to begin their morning of bird watching. First stop was at the top of the observation hill. To the north above the treeline flew a raven. Actually, we thought it was being tossed around by the wind . . . either that or it ate some craziweed. Its flight was anything but graceful! "Look there, on the southern ridge. Three cowbirds!" The birders turned around so fast, you'd swear they would have all fallen with whiplash. Kidding . . . they're just three cows!" That's pretty much how the rest of the morning progressed. Lots of laughter yet, surprisingly, many bird sightings! In fact, by the time we finished driving around the neighborhood of the local dairy farms, frequently clambering out of the cars to get better, wetter, views of the numerous winged ones, and stopping at the Grateful Bread Restaurant for brunch, we had a count of 36 species of birds who were crazy enough to be flapping around in such wild weather! Go figure!! (Sorry, readers, but no photos were taken, for obvious reasons!!) If you'd like to learn more about the Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge, click here.

Birds seen at NWR, Little Nestucca, and surrounding area:

Sightings of the Day

Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Common Raven
Canada Geese
Cackling Geese
Hermit Thrush
Steller Jay
Spotted Towhee
Bufflehead
Northern Flicker
House Finch
Purple Finch
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
American Robin
European StarlingBrewer's Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird
American Coot
Ring-necked Duck
Red-tailed Hawk
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Mallard
Northern Harrier
American Wigeon
Northern Pintail
Immature Bald Eagle
Western Gull
American Crow
House Sparrow
American Kestrel
Surf Scoter
Golden-crowned Sparrow

November 9, 2010 Siletz Bay (IBA)

The weather was cold and slightly windy but 17 birders braved the elements for an exciting morning of birding.
We started at the Taft dock, moved to Cutler City and finally ended on the Nature Trail at Salishan.

Sightings of the Day
Double-crested Cormorant
Western Gull
Mew Gull
Common Loon
Pacific Loon
Red-throated Loon
Red-breasted Merganser
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Red-necked Grebe
Red-tailed Hawk
Horned Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Bufflehead
Mallard
Tundra Swan
Green-winged Teal
Great Egret
Northern Harrier
Belted Kingfisher
American Kestrel
European Starling
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Yellow-rumped Warbler
American Wigeon
Northern Pintail
American Crow
Bald Eagle
Peregrine Falcon
Pacific Wren

September 11, 2010 Salmon River Estuary (IBA)

What a wonderful start to a fun morning of birding . . . the sky was blue, crystal clear, and sunny. Except for the noisy activity of fishermen trucking their boats to the dock at river's edge in Knight Park, the air was still, the water was calm. Seventeen birders gathered around the kayaks and canoes which they would later ride but first they were interested in what guest speaker, Mary Coolidge, had to say about her conservation work with the Portland Audubon Society. Shortly after, local bird expert Dick Demarest led the group around Knight Park to get glimpses of nearby bird activities. The silence was cut by the chattering of Kingfishers and the chirps of Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Golden-crowned Kinglets. Easily seen with the naked eye were close to a dozen Turkey Vultures, seven on one side of the river, five on the other. Taking in the sights sat Western Gulls on the mudflats of the estuary. Close to 11am, the adventurous members of the group climbed in the canoes while others cautiously entered the snug-fitting kayaks. With the tide coming in, it was a bit of a chore paddling toward the mouth of the Salmon River. The trip was very peaceful, very rewarding.

Mary Coolidge

Sightings of the Day
Belted Kingfisher
Turkey Vulture (mature and immature)
Double-crested Cormorant
Western Gull
American Crow
Great Blue Heron
American Robin
Tree Swallow
Stellar's Jay
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Song Sparrow
Red-shafted Flicker
Northern Harrier
Pacific Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Brown Pelican
Gray Jay

June 12, 2010 Yaquina Head Bird Walk

Almost 20 ASLC birders turned out on a beautiful Saturday morning to observe birds at the Yaquina Head Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area just north of Newport. With sunshine and almost no wind, this was a great day to enjoy the fabulous Oregon coast scenery and to get close to birds during the breeding season. Birders stopped first at the visitor center to view swallows, sparrows, and other perching birds. At the lighthouse viewpoint, birders focused on seabirds and shorebirds. It is a great time of year to see cormorants in their breeding plumage, Brandt's Cormorants with their azure blue throat pouches and Pelagic Cormorants with white flank patches. From a single vantage point at this site, birders were able to turn south to observe a pair of Black Oystercatchers who seemed to be scouting out a potential nest site and then turn north to watch an American Bald Eagle in a tree near the parking lot who seemed to be scouting out the Common Murre colony on the adjacent rocks.

Sightings of the Day
Barn Swallow
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
House Sparrow
American Crow
Starling (immature)
Pacific Slope Flycatcher
Swainson's Thrush
Turkey Vulture
White-crowned Sparrow
Brandt's Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Pigeon Guillemot
Western Gull
Western Grebe
Clark's Grebe
Cowbird
Bald Eagle
Black Oystercatcher
American Goldfinch
Common Murre
Red-tailed Hawk

May 8, 2010 Bird Photography Talk and Walk

What a beautiful, welcoming morning on the coast! We all met at Knight Park in Otis around 9am . . . about 15 of us bird watchers. We saw some amazing birds and met some nice people. The tide was low but high above us we saw the Turkey Vultures stretching their wings on their roosts and catch the thermals to wherever they chose to head this fine morning. Bald Eagles were also seen taking the high road to wherever! Meanwhile throughout the rest of the morning we saw:

Sightings of the Day
Common Merganser
Canada Geese
Great Blue Heron
Long-Billed Dowitchers (flock)
Whimbrels (flock)
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Barn Swallow
Tree Swallow
Least Sandpipers
Song Sparrow
White-winged Scoters
Hairy Woodpecker
Rufus Hummingbird
American Robin
American Crow
Wilson's Warbler
White-crowned Sparrow
Red Crossbill
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Starlings
Black-capped Chickadee
Sandhill Crane
Pelagic Cormorants
Western Gull
Raven
Red-tailed Hawk

. . . and we heard frogs that sounded very much like the Sandhill Crane!

April 10, 2010 Bird Walk at Siletz Bay, Lincoln City

Nearly 20 people enjoyed wonderful weather and exciting sights as they hiked the Salishan Nature Trail in search of birds this Saturday, April 10th. Participants spotted 25 different birds in Siletz Bay and in the marshes, shrubs, and dunes along the Salishan Nature Trail. Most of the participants on this walk were new to Audubon and almost half were from out of the area. On the second Saturday of most months, ASLC hosts a bird walk beginning at 9 AM. We provide binoculars and field guides to new birders and welcome beginning birders on these monthly outings. "It's great to be able to introduce our wonderful coastal birding sites to both new and experienced birders from other parts of the state," said ASLC President, Jack Doyle.

Sightings of the Day
Bald Eagle
Bufflehead
Mallard
Great Blue Heron
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Rufous Hummingbird
Anna's Hummingbird
American Robin
American Goldfinch
American Crow
Marsh Wren
House Finch
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Flock of flying Cormorants
Pelagic Cormorant
Brandt's Cormorant
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Western Gull
California Gull
Great Egret
Northern Pintail

January 9, 2010 Yaquina Bay Bird Walk

Photos by Jack Doyle

"Great day, with 29 other birders!
We had such nice close looks
at so many of these birds,
and the red-necked grebe was a first for me."
- Laura Doyle
 
YAQUINA BAY BIRDS:
Rock Dove
Western Gull
California Gull
Surf Scoter
Western Grebe
Pelagic Cormorant
Bufflehead
White Scoter
American Coot
Common Loon
Brandts Cormorant
Brandt Goose
Great Blue Heron
Northern Flicker
Song Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Bewicks Wren
American Crow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Goldfinch
House Finch
White-crowned Sparrow
American Kestrel
Bald Eagle
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Bushtit
Belted Kingfisher
Common Goldeneye
 
SOUTH JETTY SITE:
Western Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Horned Grebe
Common Loon
Harlequin Duck
Mew Gull
Black Turnstone
Brown Pelican
Surf Scoters
Western Gull
California Gull