November 12, 2016 Cascade Head Scenic Area at the River House

We had our monthly Audubon field trip this morning, the subject being how to take bird pictures. For the participating 17 birders, the morning started with high winds and overcast skies but no rain. In our talk about bird photography, we explained how difficult it was to take a picture into a very light background. Turns out we needed all our expertise in taking pictures of a Northern Pygmy Owl. Field guide, Mark Elliot, mentioned when we first started our trip to look out for this owl. We don't know why he said that since we very, very rarely see them. Just before our walk got over and only 50 yards from where we started, one of our group spotted this owl on a branch next to the road. He happened to be the only person from out of state, Kansas of all places, where they do not have this bird. What a treat for all of us!

Sightings of the Day
Common Loon
Surf Scoter
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Hermit Thrush
Marsh Wren
Pacific Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Northern Pygmy Owl
Steller's Jay
Western Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Bald Eagle
Common Raven
Western Gull

October 8, 2016 Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint to Devil’s Punchbowl State Natural Area

It was the calm after the rains that drew 20 birders to Boiler Bay. The morning was gray but with no wind or precipitation. Meeting in the parking lot at Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint 20 birders, from as far away as Indianapolis IN and Yachats OR, gathered in a circle to introduce themselves to each other before scoping out the area for sea and shore birds . . . but not before immediately spotting Gray Whales just north of the parking area. So it took a while to get everyone together and to direct their attention to birding!

During stops from Boiler Bay to Devil’s Punchbowl State Natural Area, field guide Mark Elliott continuously set up his scope so others could get close views of Black Oystercatchers, Pacific Loons, Harlequin Ducks, and more. Brown Pelicans and Surf Scoters were migrating south in large and numerous groups. In all, it was a very pleasant morning and an enjoyable birding experience.

Sightings of the Day
Great Blue Heron
Song Sparrow
Brown Pelican
Pacific Loon
Western Grebe
Surf Scoter
Common Murre
Pelagic Cormorant
Savannah Sparrow
European Starling
Brewer's Blackbird
Belted Kingfisher
American Crow
American Robin
Black Oystercatcher
Black Turnstone
Harlequin Duck
Red-necked Grebe
Common Loon
Stellar's Jay
Western Gull
California Gull
Bald Eagle

September 9, 2016 Birding the Little Nestucca River in Kayaks

What a beautiful, sunny morning to spend in kayaks searching for the winged ones! Six birders, from Lincoln City, Otis and Depoe Bay enjoyed paddling and birding the Little Nestucca River. Even before we launched our kayaks in the river, a Bald Eagle made an appearance just on the other side of the river. We caught the river during slack tide and headed down river toward the bay. Up ahead, 150-200 yards, about a dozen Great Egrets and just as many Great Blue Herons were mingling along the river bank. And just in front of them on a sandbar must have been about 75 Double-crested Cormorants. In all 26 bird species were sighted. On the return trip, a Belted Kingfisher led us upriver for quite a distance. Oh, and let's not forget that we saw 2 other Bald Eagles perched on a tree at river's edge. Fantastic morning!!

Sightings of the Day
Bald Eagle
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Double-crested Cormorant
Spotted Sandpiper
Barn Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Tree Swallow
Canada Goose
Mallard
Common Merganser
American Crow
Western Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Immature Gulls
Red-winged Blackbird
Marsh Wren
Northern Flicker
Song Sparrow
Sandpipers - flock of -Least or -Western
American Robin
European Starling
Belted Kingfisher
Wilson’s Warbler
Turkey Vulture
Steller's Jay

August 13, 2016 Bayocean Spit/Tillamook Bay

Had a very nice bird outing this morning guided by Jack Hurt. To our surprise we shared Bayocean with a 5K and 10K foot race. In spite of such a foggy morning, birders did manage to see and photograph a number of birds. The highlighted bird of the morning was the Wrentit. Jack Doyle managed to get a great shot of the elusive bird. Another great find were Caspian Terns.

Sightings of the Day
American Goldfinch
White-crowned Sparrow
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Glaucus-winged Gull
Semi-palmated Plover
Belted Kingfisher
American Robin
Black-headed Grosbeak
Brown-headed Cowbird
American Crow
Cedar Waxwing
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Common Yellowthroat
Wrentit
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
Double-crested Cormorant
Northern Flicker
Least Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Song Sparrow
Canada Goose

July 9, 2016 Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area

The Peregrine Falcons were quite active when the eighteen birders arrived at the visitor center parking lot. One was chasing a Turkey Vulture and two others were playing war games as they easily maneuvered with death-defying, high-speed dives. Down below, birders had their cameras aimed in the sky to record what was happening above. Back on the walk, after his recent knee replacement surgery, field guide Mark Elliott gathered everyone together and proceeded to walk in the direction of the lighthouse. On the way, we witnessed a mother Barn Swallow feeding its chicks in the nest. Whewww, the wind was howling as we tried to steady our cameras and spotting scopes, yet it was a beautiful sunny morning. The murres, cormorants and gulls were either gathering new nesting material or tending to their young as the vultures were scoping them out from above. The falcons were the only raptors we saw this morning. Once again, we had a very enjoyable and rewarding experience.

Sightings of the Day

Peregrine Falcon
Turkey Vulture
Barn Swallow
White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
American Crow
Pelagic Cormorant
Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Western Gull
Harlequin Duck
American Goldfinch
House Finch
House Sparrow
Brandt's Cormorant
Black Oystercatcher

June 11, 2016 Salmon River Estuary: Tamara Quays and Pixieland

It was a warm morning with the sun breaking through the clouds. There were 17 of us walking along the road listening to the songs of the birds. Tamara Quays was our first stop and while we could tell the song of the Swainson's Thrush it was never in our sight until.....it decided to rest on a branch.

Sightings of the Day

Song Sparrow

Barn Swallow

Anna's Hummingbird

Swainson's Thrush

American Robin

Turkey Vulture

Pacific Wren

Wilson's Warbler

Black-headed Grosbeak

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Cedar Waxwing

Warbling Vireo

American Goldfinch

Belted Kingfisher

Common Yellowthroat

Canada Goose

American Crow

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bald Eagle

Western Wood-Pewee

Osprey

May 14, 2016 Villages at Cascade Head/Roads End Park

It was too wet for cameras. We had about 10-12 birders and considering the weather saw some interesting birds.
First bird of the day was the Olive-sided Flycatcher. When we arrived at the beach, we were surprised to see a pair of Black Oystercatchers
on the beach and you could tell by the birds that were present it was "migratory bird day" for Mew Gull, Bonaparte’s Gull, Dunlin, etc.

Sightings of the Day

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Red-tailed Hawk

Anna’s Hummingbird

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

(heard)Wilson’s Warbler

Mallard

Turkey Vulture

Orange-crowned Warbler

American Robin

Black-headed Grosbeak

Red-winged Blackbird

White-crowned Sparrow

Song Sparrow

American Crow

Western Gull

Mew Gull

Bonaparte’s Gull

Dunlin

Western Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

Black Oystercatcher

Surf Scoter

Pelagic Cormorant

Scaup

Brown Pelican

American Goldfinch

April 9, 2016 Beaver Creek State Park

There were 9 people present for the bird walk. We saw or heard 16 birds we could identify and heard a lot of birds we couldn’t identify or find to see. Birding was mostly by ear at this site. Unfortunately, the marsh trail was not available – closed this time of year, and the south access point parking can’t handle more than 6-8 cars. The road we walked did provide some marsh overlook but no view of open water so no view of waterfowl.

Sightings of the Day

Anna's Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Steller's Jay

Red-winged Blackbird

Turkey Vulture

Red-tailed Hawk

Great Blue Heron

Morning Dove

Song Sparrow

Tree Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Barn Swallow

Belted Kingfisher

Marsh Wren

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-eyed Vireo (?)

Northern Rough-winged Swallow (?)

March 12, 2016 Seal Rock State Recreation Area

When we left Otis it was 39 degrees, dark, cold and raining with a forecast of 100% rain all day. Rained all the way down to Seal Rock but at 9am the sun came out for us to start birding, the surrounding sky was black. After 30 minutes the sun went behind a few clouds as we moved to a location looking south down the coast. It was then we saw lightning followed by thunder and more rain. We went back to the parking lot to wait out the downpour before heading down 101 in search of more birds. At the second spot all the birds that were on the beach suddenly took off indicating the fly over by a Bald Eagle. The highlight of the trip was a lone Peregrine Falcon sitting atop a high rock formation 100 yards out.

Sightings of the Day

Bald Eagle
Pelagic Cormorant
Brandt's Cormorant
Western Gull
Black Oystercatcher
Peregrine Falcon
Surf Scoter
Glaucous-winged Gull
American Crow
Common Raven

February 13, 2016 Siletz Bay at 51st and Salishan Nature Trail

"Red sky morning, sailors take warning." That's the way the morning started but 26 birders lucked out. Although it was a bit chilly morning, there was no rain, yet! With field guide, Mark Elliott, the morning started at the dock next to Mo's restaurant. Unfortunately the dock was closed off but we did manage to see quite a few birds such as Great Egret, Common Loon, Bald Eagle, grebes and mergansers, gulls, and other species. From 51st Street we headed to the Salishan Marketplace to walk the Salishan Nature Trail along the north side of the golf course. This is a short yet interesting trail with a variety of bird species. A great morning for all.

Birds shown: Red Crossbills, Anna's Hummingbird, Great Blue Heron

Sightings of the Day
Bald Eagle
Rock Dove
Western Gull
Bufflehead
Red-breasted Merganser
Great Egret
Western Grebe
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Common Merganser
Anna’s Hummingbird
Red-tailed Hawk
Canada Goose
Pine Siskin
Red Crossbill
Northern Flicker
American Robin
Eurasian Collared Dove
Song Sparrow
Hermit Thrush
Pelagic Cormorant
American Crow
Common Raven
Steller’s Jay