March 8, 2025 Kilchis Point Reserve

Long-billed Dowitchers by Ruth Shelly

On a cloudy Saturday, Brodie Cass Talbot from Bird Alliance of Oregon led 22 participants on our first bird walk at Kilchis Point Reserve in Bay City. A Brown Creeper made a fleeting appearance on this lovely trail, which featured a lot of birding by ear...along with budding plants, frog eggs, and a tree snag awaiting spring residents. Our patience was rewarded with numerous waterfowl, shorebirds, herons, and two Bald Eagles once we reached Tillamook Bay.

The full list of 21 species included:

Birders by Tom Rice

Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Green-winged Teal
Bufflehead
Short-billed/Long-billed Dowitcher
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater/Lesser Yellowlegs
Short-billed Gull
Western Gull
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Downy Woodpecker
Hutton’s Vireo
Steller’s Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren
American Robin
House Sparrow
Red Crossbill

March 7, 2025 Spring Lake Open Space

Spring Lake, photo by Tom Rice

19 participants attended our Spring Lake bird walk on March 7, sponsored by Lincoln City Parks and Recreation. For many, it was their first experience with one of Lincoln City’s open spaces and they were all suitably impressed. Our birding guide Seth, out of Corvallis, was very knowledgeable and helpful with bird identification. 

As with most of our woodland bird walks, the number of visual bird sightings was somewhat limited and many in the group observed and discussed the various mushrooms and other fungi we encountered along the way. By the end of our two-hour walk, we had identified 16 bird species. 

Sightings included:

Birders on trail, photo by Heather Goble

Canada Goose
Eurasian Collared Dove
Anna’s Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Steller’s Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Brown Creeper
Pacific Wren
Varied Thrush
American Robin
Yellow-rumped Warbler

February 8, 2025 Friends of the Wildwoods Open Space

The walk started off with lovely birding weather, though we didn't see very many birds during the first half of the walk. We decided to walk down to Holmes Road Park and saw lots of waterfowl including 6 Canvasbacks! Our walk was cut about 20 minutes short by a downpouring of heavy rain, but overall it was another great birding experience for the 16 birders who joined us. 

Sightings of the day:

Ruby-crowned Kinglet by Ruth Shelly

Canvasback
Ring-necked Duck
Bufflehead
Ruddy Duck
Eurasian Collared-Dove
American Coot
Western Gull
gull sp. 
Bald Eagle
Northern Flicker
Steller's Jay
American Crow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
House Sparrow

January 10, 2025 Regatta Park & Devils Lake

Eric Horvath, an expert bird guide from Newport, led a group of 20 enthusiastic birders at Regatta Park. The walk, sponsored by Lincoln City Parks and Recreation, was not as rainy as expected, with just a brief shower. We began at the edge of the lake, where a diverse flock of waterfowl gave us great looks as Eric explained how to distinguish shape and behavior, in addition to pointing our winter field marks. Two Belted Kingfishers gave us great looks as they perched near some docks. From there, we wandered into the woods on the nature trail - stopping along the way for flocks of small birds and sparrows. We enjoyed the Oregon Historic Tree, the giant Sitka Spruce in the center of the forest, before walking to the nearby neighborhood and back to the lake. 

Sightings of the day:

Brown Creeper, photo by dawn villaescusa

Birders at Regatta Park, photo by Heather Goble

Canada Goose 
American Wigeon 
Mallard 
Ring-necked Duck
Bufflehead
Ruddy Duck
Eurasian Collared-Dove
American Coot
Western Gull
Pied-billed Grebe
Common Loon
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Steller's Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
European Starling
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Song Sparrow
Townsend's Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler