November 11, 2017 Cascade Head Scenic Area at the River House

Coming from Otis, Lincoln City, Siletz, Depoe Bay, Idaho, Coos Bay, and Neskowin, 19 birders gathered in the CHR River House at 9am. After a brief talk on bird photography by ASLC president Jack Doyle, all headed outside for the morning's bird walk along the shoreline of the Salmon River. Twenty-one species of birds were sighted during the on-again/off-again drizzling morning. The weather and the lighting wasn't the best for bird photography but some birders managed to get some decent photos. Back in the River House, hot cider and cookies offered a welcoming respite from the damp outside.

Sightings of the Day
Pacific Loon
Western Gull
Common Merganser
Belted Kingfisher
Bald Eagle
Pacific Wren
Northern Flicker
Pine Siskin
Fox Sparrow
Steller’s Jay
Western Grebe
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Cooper’s Hawk
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Crow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Song Sparrow
Marsh Wren

October 14, 2017 Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint to Devil's Punchbowl State Natural Area

What a wonderful morning! 21 birders gathered in the parking lot of the Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint for the ASLC bird walk, led by Mark Elliott. From Boiler Bay the birders caravanned past Depoe Bay, made a brief stop at Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint, and further travelled to Devil's Punchbowl State Natural Area. Interesting birds that were sighted include Black Turnstone, Wandering Tattler, Surfbird and Harlequin Duck.

Sightings of the Day
Brown Pelican

California Gull

Western Gull

Double-crested Cormorant

American Crow

Pacific Loon

Pelagic Cormorant

Western Grebe

Song Sparrow

Pigeon Guillemot

Red-throated Loon

Pine Siskin

Common Loon

Harlequin Duck

Red-necked Grebe

Surfbird

Wandering Tattler

Black Turnstone

House Sparrow

Black Oystercatcher

Anna's Hummingbird

September 9, 2017 Kayaking/Canoeing the Little Nestucca River

Sightings of the Day

Turkey Vulture
Merlin
Red-tailed Hawk
Canada Goose
House Finch
American Crow
European Starling
Red-winged Blackbird
Barn Swallow
American Goldfinch
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
Song Sparrow
Steller’s JayCedar Waxwing
Barn Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Bald Eagle
California Gull
Western Gull
Sandpiper sp.
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Double-crested Cormorant
Mallard
Hooded Merganser
Purple Martin

August 12, 2017 Kilchis Point Reserve

Nine birders headed to Kilchis Point Reserve in Bay City. Immediately, we should tell you that if you are traveling north to locate it, you might bypass it since there is no directional signage telling you to turn west off of Hwy 101. However, you will find a sign as you head south from Garibaldi. Anyway, meeting and greeting each other at the parking lot, we began the walk along a very well-maintained path with numerous informational signs leading us to the bay. The weather was perfect and the camaraderie was excellent. Initially, we heard numerous American Robins squawking about something in their area. Soon, we saw the flash of a Great Horned Owl as it flew away from the ruckus. Many bird species were seen once we arrived at the bay opening. The tide was very low so shorebirds were quite a distance away but we did manage to identify several of them. On our return trip, a Downy Woodpecker and a Hairy Woodpecker were sighted in close proximity. All in all, it was a pleasant, relaxing and enjoyable walk.

Sightings of the Day
American Crow
Barn Swallow
American Goldfinch
Great Egret
Steller's Jay
White-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Cedar Waxwing
Great Horned Owl
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Swainson Thrush
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Band-tailed Pigeon
American Robin
Bald Eagle
Mew Gull
Western Gull
Least Sandpiper
Semi-palmated Plover
Osprey
California Gull
Wilson Warbler
Violet-green Swallow
Downy Woodpecker
Turkey Vulture
Black-headed Grosbeak
Common Raven
Hairy Woodpecker
Red-tailed Hawk

July 8, 2017 Buell County Park and Mill Creek Park

A county park just a ways off the main road was a pleasant surprise to 16 birders that joined our outing. The morning was warm and the shade of the Bigleaf Maple and Oregon white oak trees hosted a variety of species that we don't usually see on the Oregon Coast. It was a clear, sunny morning as we gathered in the parking lot of Buell County Park, a location that was not familiar to many who came. As a Great Blue Heron squawked in retreat, binoculars were focused on Willow Flycatchers, Chipping Sparrows, and the brightly-colored Western Tanager. At Mill Creek Park, on the other side of Hwy 22, we had another sighting of the Western Tanager as well as Cedar Waxwings. Moving about half a mile from the park we stopped along the creek for any new sightings. And there it was! An American Dipper wading in the water and stopping on a rock long enough for a photo op!! We couldn't have asked for a better morning for a bird walk!

Sightings of the Day
Willow Flycatcher
American Goldfinch
Barn Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
American Robin
Chipping Sparrow
Turkey Vulture
Great Blue Heron
Northern Harrier
Warbling Vireo
Song Sparrow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Cedar Waxwing
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Western Tanager
Dark-eyed Junco
Swainson's Thrush
Spotted Towhee
California Scrub Jay
Red-tailed Hawk
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
European Starling
American Kestrel
Common Raven
Stellar's Jay
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
American Dipper
California Quail

June 10, 2017 Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area

The weather was a question mark for our Saturday morning bird walk at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area. As it turned out we had another beautiful bird walk with very little wind and 14 fellow birders. We were not disappointed by the action of resident Peregrine Falcons as they fed two young birds. Our walk to the rocks below showed us that the eagles and the gulls have taken toll on the Common Murre population. Very few birds were nesting on the rocks surrounding the lighthouse and we saw at least three eagles close by.

Sightings of the Day
Peregrine Falcon
White-crowned Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Barn Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
American Crow
House Finch
Song Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Rufus Hummingbird
Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Brandt's Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Brown Pelican
Great Blue Heron
Western Gull

May 13, 2017 Open Spaces Bird Walk: Villages of Cascade Head to Roads End Park Beach

With the recent weather giving us nothing but downpours one would think Saturday's bird walk would be a no show. Instead everyone was pleasantly surprised by the fact there was very little rain and 11 people showed up for the event, including two couples from Vancouver, Washington!

Sightings of the Day
Black-headed Grosbeak
Northern Flicker
Hairy Woodpecker
American Robin
White-crowned Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
American Crow
Brewers Blackbird
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian-collared Dove
Pacific Wren
Dark-eyed Junco
Great Blue Heron
Song Sparrow
Tree Swallow
Mallard
Barn Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Marsh Wren
Western Gull
Brown Pelican
European Starling
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Anna's Hummingbird
American Goldfinch
Purple Finch
Western Wood-pewee
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow Warbler
Turkey Vulture
Steller's Jay

April 8, 2017 Alder Island Nature Trail Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge

While the rest of Lincoln City was experiencing rain and hail, 15 birders walked the Alder Island Nature Trail at the Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge in the sun. We watched 8-10 Great Blue Herons flying in and out of the alders some with nesting materials in their beaks.

Music of the songbirds filled the air and added to the beauty of the sun-filled morning.

Sightings of the Day

Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Bufflehead
American Robin
Double-crested Cormorant
Rufous Hummingbird
Mallard
Barn Swallow
Song Sparrow
Canada Goose
American Crow
Bald Eagle
Red-breasted Merganser
Purple Finch
Orange-crowned Warbler
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Common Raven
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Violet-green Swallow
Turkey Vulture
European Starling
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-winged Blackbird
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Western Grebe
Stellar's Jay
Anna's Hummingbird
Common Merganser
Red-tailed Hawk
Common Yellowthroat
Belted Kingfisher
Western Gull
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Rock Pigeon

March 11, 2017 Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Despite the lovely rain that fell, 15 determined birders showed up at the Nestucca Wildlife Refuge. We could see and hear signs of Spring everywhere including the return of the Turkey Vulture. The dark, rainy weather kept us from getting many photos to post!!

Sightings of the Day
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Mallard
European Starling
American Crow
Common Raven
Great Blue Heron
Tree Swallow
Anna's Hummingbird
Cackling Goose
Red-tailed Hawk
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Northern Flicker
Dark-eyed Junco
Bald Eagle
Turkey Vulture
Steller's Jay
Pacific Wren
Rufus Hummingbird
Scrub Jay
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Song Sparrow
Canada Goose
Killdeer
Great Egret
Brewer's Blackbird
Violet-green Swallow
Red-winged Blackbird
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
American Coot
Cooper's Hawk
Brown-headed Cowbird

February 11, 2017 Siletz Bay, Alder Island Loop, and Salishan Nature Trails

Today was the first blue sky day we have had in a long time. It lasted all day and 25 birders came and took advantage of the sunshine and birds. While we were waiting for everyone to gather, all eyes went to the sky to see two immature and one mature Bald Eagles. To top that off a sighting of a Barn Swallow and Tree Swallows surprised us with their early arrival to the area.

Sightings of the Day
Barn Swallow
Tree Swallow
Bald Eagle
American Crow
Common Raven
Rock Dove
Mew Gull
Western Gull
Surf Scoter
Red-breasted Merganser
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Double-crested Cormorant
Barrows Goldeneye
Stellar's Jay
Common Goldeneye
Great Blue Heron
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Song Sparrow
Anna's Hummingbird
Canada Goose
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Hairy Woodpecker
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Eared Grebe
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Downy Woodpecker
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pacific Wren
Hermit Thrush
Northern Flicker
Horned Grebe