October 15, 2015 Oregon Coast Community College Basic Birding Class, Lincoln City, Oregon

It was a beautiful ending to our Basic Birding class. We met at the dock in Taft and right away our resident Eagle flew in and allowed everyone a great look through Mark's scope. We were able to get a good look at the gulls and the crows before we jumped in our cars and headed towards the D River. Fog decided to roll in but we were still able to see some birds in the bush. What a great class and everyone was filled with enthusiasm and realized that there is some pretty wonderful things to see right in their own yard.

Sightings of the Day
Mallard
Bushtit
Steller's Jay
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Black-capped Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Song Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Northern Flicker
Great Egret
Common Raven
Western Gull
Herring Gull
American Crow
Brown Pelican
Great Blue Heron
Double-crested Cormorant
California Gull
Red-breasted Merganzer
Pacific Loon
Bald Eagle

October 12, 2015 Clay Myers State Natural Area at Whalen Island

A group of 12 enthusiastic birders gathered at Whalen Island to check out any birds that were willing to brave the weather along with us.
The winds from the storm Oho picked up about halfway through the walk. It was wet and fun! The birds decided for the most part to stay under cover. We did manage to see a few good birds.

Sightings of the Day
Bald Eagle
American Robin
Common Raven
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Song Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Gold-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Common Yellowthroat
American Crow
Western Gull
California Gull
Belted Kingfisher
Varied Thrush

September 26, 2015 Villages at Cascade Head

It turned out to be a beautiful day for the walk, in the woods, to the Pacific Ocean, and back.
There were 8 of us that met on this perfectly sunny day.
It is the time of year when some birds are passing through and some are beginning to show up.
We saw a little of both. The whales even showed up to give us all a thrill.

Sightings of the Day

Eurasian Collared-Dove
Northern Flicker
Steller’s Jay
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
White-crowned Sparrow
Oregon Junco
Pine Siskin
Song Sparrow
Bewick’s Wren
Spotted Towee
Turkey Vulture

Golden-crowned Sparrow
Mallard
European Starlings
Brewer’s Blackbird
Pelagic Cormorant
Pacific Loon
Brown Pelican
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Black Phoebe

September 12, 2015 Salmon River Estuary

The morning started out with some fog but by the time we got all 12 kayaks in the water the fog lifted and the sun poked through the clouds. Which of course meant a little wind with the sun. The group paddled up the Salmon River and decided to launch and check out the birds along the western shore. While we didn't see a large number of birds it was interesting to watch the fishermen trying to hook the big one and the guys on sea kayaks twisting and turning in the Pacific. Everyone agreed that we all had a great time.

Sightings of the Day
Belted Kingfisher
Great Blue Heron
Double-crested Cormorant
Turkey Vulture
American Crow
Common Raven
Bald Eagle
Barn Swallow
Steller's Jay

July 17, 2015 Village at Cascade Head Open Space Bird Walk

There were 12 birders on this walk and it was a calm and sunny day. The weather was wonderful for us as well as the birds. We kept adding to the list as we walked slowly through this space to the Pacific Ocean. Visitors from out of town were impressed with our Open Spaces and expressed how fortunate we were to have such a spot so close to the city.

Sightings of the Day

Cedar Waxwing
White-crowned Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Common Raven
Swainson’s Thrush
Northern Flicker
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Band-tailed Pigeon
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Mockingbird
Rufus Hummingbird
American Robin
Wilson’s Warbler
Western Tanager
Orange-crowned Warbler
Black-capped Chickadee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Turkey VulturePacific Wren
Mallard
Hooded Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Song Sparrow
Anna’s Hummingbird
Black-headed Cowbird
Red-winged Blackbird
Barn Swallow
House Wren
Brewers Blackbird
Western Gull
Pelagic Cormorant
Brandt’s Cormorant
Common Murre
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
American Crow
Black Phoebe
Hermit Warbler

July 11, 2015 Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area

The morning started with gray skies and very little wind as 24 birders gathered at the Lighthouse Headquarters. We watched a female Peregrine Falcon watch us. Perhaps letting us know this is her home. The paved trail along the coastline always provides us with new sightings. The baby gulls and cormorants were a joy to watch. Sadly missing was the young of the Common Murre.

Sightings of the Day
Peregrine Falcon

Turkey Vulture

Barn Swallow

White-crowned Sparrow

Rufus Hummingbird

Song Sparrow

House Finch

Pigeon Guillemot

Common Murre

Pelagic Cormorant

Brant's Cormorant

Western Gull

Wandering Tattler

Surf Scoter

Black Oystercatcher

Whimbrel

Rhinoceros Auklet

Brown Pelican

Spotted Towhee

American Crow

Bald Eagle

June 27, 2015 The Knoll at Roads End Open Space

Trip leader, Mark Elliott, and a sweet looking deer greeted the group of 12 birders. The weather was slightly overcast as we proceeded to make our way through the trees to the top of the Knoll. It was an excellent time to sharpen bird identification by ear because of the canopy that the trees provided. Once on top we were rewarded with an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean, Lincoln City, and Devil's Lake.
It was a 'wish you were there' moment.

Sightings of the Day
American Goldfinch
Great Blue Heron
American Crow
White-crowned Sparrow
American Robin
Black-headed Grosbeak
Swainson's Thrush
Orange-crowned Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Steller's Jay
Red Crossbill
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Hermit Warbler
Gray Jay
Hairy Woodpecker
Double-crested Cormorant
Rufus Hummingbird
Glaucous-winged Gull
Brown Pelican
Cedar Waxwing
Brown-headed Cowbird

June 13, 2015 Tamara Quays and Pixieland

It was a blue-sky morning for this bird walk and the 31 birders who joined trip leader, Mark Elliott. The group moved quietly along Frazier Road stopping often to listen to the calls from a variety of birds and while some were identified by sounds others came out of the trees for a good look. The meadow was at it’s best and opened the sky up for us to get a good view at a small group of Great Blue Herons and Osprey. The group then traveled to Pixieland for more birding.

Sightings of the Day
Turkey Vulture
Pacific Wren
Wilson's Warbler
Steller's Jay
Barn Swallow
Swainson's Thrush
Band-tailed Pigeon
Cedar Waxwing
Song Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
American Robin
American Goldfinch
Osprey
Rufus Hummingbird
Common Yellowthroat
Great Blue Heron
American Crow
Spotted Towhee
Barn Owl
White-crowned Sparrow
Western Wood-Pewee
Brown-headed Cowbird
Northern Flicker
Bushtit
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Violet-green Swallow
Red-tailed Hawk

June 12, 2015 Devil's Lake State Park/D River Open Space

A group of 16 birders gathered together to participate in our morning walk. It was a sunny morning with a slight breeze. The sound of birds was promising as we started down the boardwalk and through Devil’s Lake State Park. This area has a variety of habitat and we weren't disappointed during our walk.

Sightings of the Day
Cedar Waxwing
Song Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Barn Swallow
American Crow
Spotted Towhee
Rufus Hummingbird
Black-headed Grosbeak
American Robin
Turkey Vulture
Red-winged Blackbird
Steller's Jay
Brown-headed Cowbird
Eurasian-collared Dove
Common Loon
Osprey
Western Gull
Violet-green Swallow
Warbling Vireo
European Starling
Wilson's Warbler
White-crowned Sparrow

May 21, 2015 Cutler City Wetlands Open Space & Josephine Young Memorial Park

There were 10 of us on the walk this morning and what a treat. Nature embraced us everywhere. What an interesting, mossy location! Interestingly, we heard many birds but very few showed themselves. The small birds flittered around so fast, faster than we could either ID or photograph them. It was a very enjoyable walk with tall, wild rhodedendrons and other interesting flora. The walk ended at Josephine Young Memorial Park where 5 immature eagles and an osprey were seen during a very low tide.

Sightings of the Day
Varied Thrush
Steller's Jay
American Robin
American Crow
Rufus and Anna's Hummingbird
Nuthatch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Swainson's Thrush
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
European Starling
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Song Sparrow
Canada Goose
Great Blue Heron
Orange-crowned Warbler
Spotted Towhee
White-crowned Sparrow
Bald Eagle
Osprey
Eurasian-collared Dove
American Goldfinch