Birding Heceta

Phyllis, Shelley and I birded first Sealion Point then Heceta. Weather was calm and there were lots of seabirds nesting, really fun! Rhino Auklets, Common Murres and Brandt's Cormorants all in full breeding plumage and coloration.

Heceta Head Lighthouse is looking gorgeous after the two year restoration.

Mountain hiking/birding

North and Middle Sisters from the PCT near McKenzie Pass

Indian Ford Meadows, a 63 acre preserve with great mountain views and lots of birds. The only place I saw Black-billed Magpies. There must have been a dozen or so, very vocal.

Puffin release at Haystack Rock

SEA Seminar, Coos Bay

Lisa, Shelley, Phyllis and I took in the Shoreline Education for Awareness Seminar in Coos Bay today. Culture meets Geology was the topic. We are squeezing in a little birding at Shore Acres at lunch.

Cool rocks by the tennis court at Shore Acres.

View of Refuge Island at Sunset Bay and Chief's Island beyond with Cape Arago Lighthouse. The lighthouse was decommissioned a few years ago and the island is in the process of being returned to the tribes. To learn more about SEA click here.

Red-tailed Hawk Nest-cam

Check out this new nest-cam from Cornell  click here 

Eagle Owl

Check out this slow-mo video of an Eagle Owl!

Looking for Falcons

  

                     Kurt and Kathy came birding with Lisa, Jane and I.

 We stopped at Mary's first to try to spot the Peregrine Falcons that are nesting under the Siuslaw bridge. It's good to see these Coloradans on the coast!

Waxmyrtle and Lagoon Trails

Lisa, Mary and Gerry Misemer and I walked the Waxmyrtle Trail at Siltcoos Outlet. It was very birdy. Western Tananger, Black-headed Grosbeak and Semipalmated Plover were among highlights.

Lagoon Trail produced an Olive-sided Flycatcher and a Western Wood Peewee. The native rhododendrons are just coming into bloom.

Pihea Trail at Kokee State Park

The Ohia Lehua was in full bloom along the Pihea trail.

I saw many Apapane, a native honeycreeper that feeds on Ohia blossoms.

Kilauea Wildlife Refuge Kauai

Beautiful day at Kilauea Point.    Red-footed Boobies are nesting in trees on the far hillside.

Offshore Island beyond the end of the point.

  Laysan Albatross have chicks. The adults are great flyers with a 7 foot wingspan. They often fly to the Gulf of Alaska to forage for their chicks.

Nene the Hawaiian Goose is coming back from near extinction.

Sweet Creek Falls Hike

 

Here we are at the Homestead Trailhead 10 miles up Sweet Creek Road. Left to right, Tom, Mike, Monica, Jane and Marilyn. 

                    We are a little wetter now, at Sweet Creek Falls.

    We saw the Water Ouzel or Dipper several times. They are commonly seen bobbing on the rocks or foraging underwater using their wings to propel themselves. We hoped to see some nesting activity but were only able to pick out last years nests.

Beaver Creek State Natural Area

 Lisa and I explored the new Beaver Creek State Natural Area near Seal Rock today. We were pleased to find there are 7 miles of hiking trails,

               a visitor center with a viewing deck overlooking the marsh,

    and plenty of birds to hear and see. To learn more about Beaver Creek State Natural Area             click here

Dog Pond Fence

Finally the Forest Service has put up a fence at the Dog Pond at South Jetty  Siuslaw River to keep vehicles from driving up to and into the pond. This is one of our favorite birding spots and a beaver pond. Maybe there is hope.

Snow in Flo

White, white all white this morning

Blue sky briefly then more snow

Time to head south fellow!

Falcon Comeback

In 1970 experts couldn’t find a single peregrine falcon in Oregon. 40 years later they are off the endangered species list thanks partly to a large number of nests right in the city of Portland, many on the largest, noisiest bridges. The falcons still face threats from intentional illegal hunting. The Audubon Society of Portland tracks and bands chicks born each year.

Peregrine Falcon

This Peregrine Falcon showed up last week at Mary's dock.

Tuesday Birders at South Jetty

      Mark, Adele, Elenor, Lisa and Anne near the Siuslaw River

Fall ride along the river

Jane and I went for a ride on this perfect fall day.

Warm Weather

Warm today in Florence, it forced more than one bird to the bath

Interpretive Birding

I led a group of Forest Service Seasonal Interpreters

for the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area on

a bird walk at Lagoon Trail, Siltcoos Outlet.

Do I look like I know what I'm talking about?

We had a great time and even saw some birds!