December 8, 2023 Taft Waterfront and Siletz Bay

In December there is never a guarantee that the weather is going to be good.  On this Friday morning it was perfect for the 16 birders that showed up at Taft dock. The group, led by Mark Elliott, was not disappointed by the number of birds that were seen.

Group at Taft dock by Ruth Shelly

Buffleheads by Ruth Shelly

Sightings of the day:
Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Red-breasted Merganser
Western Grebe
California Gull
American Crow
American Robin
Bald Eagle
Great Egret
Song Sparrow
Northern Flicker
Varied Thrush
Chestnut-back Chickadee
Red-winged Blackbird
Rock Pigeon
Great Blue Heron

Yellow-rumped Warbler by Ruth Shelly

November 11, 2023 Salmon River within the Cascade Head Scenic Area

Mark Elliott led 26 birders along the Salmon River to the mouth of the Pacific Ocean. A morning seeing some amazing birds and without rain. It was perfect. 

Sightings of the day:

Group shot by Steve Griffiths

Varied Thrush
Black Phoebe
Western Gull
Hooded Merganser 
American Crow 
Belted Kingfisher 
Bald Eagle 
Cooper’s Hawk 
Hooded Merganser 
Red Phalarope 
Common Goldeneye 
Steller's Jay
American Robin
Northern Flicker
Red-throated Loon
Pacific Loon
Red Crossbill
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant 
Song Sparrow 
Yellow-rumped Warbler 
Red-tailed Hawk
Northern Harrier 
Great Egret

Salmon River by Steve Griffiths

October 14, 2023 Boiler Bay to Devils Punch Bowl

No wind or rain made it a perfect day for 21 birders that gathered at Boiler Bay. Mark Elliott led this event and we were happy to join the caravan to Otter Rock and Devil’s Punchbowl.

Sightings of the day:

Black Oystercatchers, photo by Ruth Shelly

Black Oystercatcher
Western Gull
Surfbird
Whimbrel
Pelagic and Double Crested Cormorant
American Crow
Bald Eagle
Northern Flicker
Stellar’s Jay
Song Sparrow
Harlequin Duck
Black Turnstone
Western Grebe

Birders at Boiler Bay, photo by Ruth Shelly

October 13, 2023 The Villages and Roads End State Park

Mark Elliott led 9 birders through the woods and to the beach. For some this was a new experience. As we walked we could identify some by ear as well as sight. We saw a variety of birds even though the season is changing.

Sightings of the day:

Trip leader Mark Elliott and group, photo courtesy of Tom Rice

Stellar’s Jay
Pacific Wren
Dark-eyed Junco
American Crow
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Spotted Towhee
Fox Sparrow
Great Blue Heron
Mallard
Western Gull
Brewers Blackbird
European Starling
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown Pelican
House Sparrow

September 9, 2023 Bayocean Spit

We were a small but mighty group that explored the Bayocean Spit. Our goal was to find and observe migratory shorebirds. Mark Elliott helped with identification and we were not disappointed.

Sightings of the day:

Trip leader Mark Elliot and group, photo courtesy of Caren Willoughby

Great Blue Heron
Western Gull
Short Billed Gull
Pelagic Cormorant
Barn Swallow
Brown Pelican
Semipalmated Plover
Western Sandpiper
White-crowned Sparrow
Belted Kingfisher
Cedar Waxwing
American Crow
Common Raven
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Northern Flicker
Canada Goose
Great Egret

September 8, 2023 Cutler City & Siletz Bay

ASLC’s birdwalk sponsored by Lincoln City Explorience was led by Halle Renn with 24 participants. It was a quiet walk through Cutler City Wetlands and the neighborhood. We spent time watching an Eagle and Cormorants enjoying the sun.

Sightings of the day:

Group, photo by Tom Rice

Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Cedar Waxwing
Chipmunk
Anna’s Hummingbird
Stellar’s Jay
Northern Flicker
Black-capped Chickadee
Spotted Towhee
House Finch
White-crowned Sparrow
Eurasian Collared Dove
Brewers Blackbird
American Crow
Bald Eagle
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Rufous Hummingbird
Merganser
Red-winged Blackbird
Pied-billed Grebe
Brewer’s Blackbird

August 12, 2023 Alder Island Loop Nature Trail

Group and spotting scope, photo by Ruth Shelly

It was a beautiful morning for a bird walk and a total of 45 people thought so too. We were able to see some interesting bird behaviors as we walked along the trail, including a juvenile Osprey feeding on a fish it caught.

Bird sightings included:

Osprey by Ruth Shelly

Cedar Waxwing
House Finch
Osprey
Canada Geese
Goldfinch
Great Blue Heron
American Robin
American Crow
Turkey Vulture
Mallard
Purple Martin
Double Crested Cormorant
Western Gull
Tree swallow
Song Sparrow
European Starling
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Barn Swallow
Common Raven

Osprey by Ruth Shelly

July 8, 2023 Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area

Brandt’s Cormorants with chicks, photo by Ruth Shelly

Yaquina Head in July never disappoints! We enjoyed watching colonies of nesting seabirds including Common Murres, Brandt’s and Pelagic Cormorants, and Pigeon Guillemots. A great time was had by all who attended!

Turkey Vulture and Common Murres, photo by Ruth Shelly

Birders at Yaquina Head, photo by Ruth Shelly

July 7, 2023 Nesika Park

Caren Willoughby assisting a young birder with the spotting scope, photo by Ruth Shelly

28 birders strong, we began our walk by observing the resident Osprey nest near Nesika Park. We were lucky to see all three juveniles with both adults at the nest! We then continued on to the Nesika Park trail to search for songbirds in the forest and wetlands. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed sharing the love of birding with the next generation of birders!

Adult female and juvenile Ospreys on the nest, photo by Ruth Shelly

Birders on trail, photo by Ruth Shelly

June 10, 2023 Ona Beach & Beavercreek

Belted Kingfisher by Ruth Shelly

It was a bright, sunny day for a bird walk on the beach! We started with a walk through the woods along the creek where we saw a great variety of nesting songbirds including warblers and swallows. We then moved on to the beach where we looked for wading shorebirds.

Birders on trail by Ruth Shelly

Birders on the beach by Ruth Shelly