Towheeblog

Our small field trip today gathered at Baskett Slough, then caravaned to Lincoln Count, birding south from the Hwy18 X US 101 intersection down to Depoe Bay. I thought our birding karma felt good–a small flock of Western Bluebirds was hunting near the Coville Road parking lot where we met, and a meadowlark was singing to the rising sun…and us.
Three merganser species, four grebes, two loons, a wayward white-fronted goose and a couple of alcids made for a fine day. Today’s perfect sunny weather will not doubt cost us heavy in karma re-payment at some point.

Mammals were all marine: gray whale, Cal. sealion, harbor seals. Not a single nutria! The whales spouting were all seen from Boiler Bay. Whaler watchers far out-numbered birders today.

Two shots of the white-fronted goose at Baskett Slough. When we got out of our cars to look, the near waterfowl fled, including him. But then he landed not far away among the feeding Mallards who were ignoring us diligently. In the flight picture our unexpected goose-friend is the nearest bird, heavier and slower to lift off than the many Mallards.

Call it “Oyster(catcher) Point”? On the north side of Depoe Bay:

Will blog more photos tomorrow.

Polk County, Polk, Oregon, US
Oct 28, 2020
Wild Turkey  12     in field along Hwy 22 about two miles west of Salt Creek Bridge
Killdeer  150
Red-tailed Hawk  X
American Kestrel  X
Common Raven  2
European Starling  X
American Robin  X

Baskett Slough NWR, Polk, Oregon, US
Oct 28, 2020 8:50 AM – 9:14 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
16 species
Greater White-fronted Goose  1     pond north of Coville Road with other greese
Cackling Goose  X
Canada Goose  X
Gadwall  2
American Wigeon  2
Mallard  X
Northern Pintail  2
Mourning Dove  1
American Coot  X
Northern Flicker  2
American Kestrel  1
California Scrub-Jay  X
White-crowned Sparrow  X
Lincoln’s Sparrow  1
Western Meadowlark  X
Red-winged Blackbird  X

D River Beach Wayside, Lincoln, Oregon, US–LOOKING TOWARD OCEAN
Oct 28, 2020
9 species (+1 other taxa)
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  X
Marbled Murrelet  1
Ring-billed Gull  X
Western Gull  X
California Gull  X
Herring Gull  X
Glaucous-winged Gull  X
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)  X
American Crow  X
Brewer’s Blackbird  X

D River Open Space, Lincoln, Oregon, US-looking onto Devil’s Lake
Oct 28, 2020
9 species
Mallard  X
Lesser Scaup  5
Bufflehead  4
Common Merganser  1
Pied-billed Grebe  2
Horned Grebe  1
American Coot  X
Belted Kingfisher  1
American Crow  X

Siletz Bay 2020, Lincoln, Oregon, US
Oct 28, 2020 …    two stops along US 101
14 species (+1 other taxa)
Surf Scoter  3
Bufflehead  30
Hooded Merganser  4
Red-breasted Merganser  20
Red-necked Grebe  1
Mew Gull  1
Ring-billed Gull  X
Western Gull  X
California Gull  X
Glaucous-winged Gull  X
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)  X
Great Blue Heron  1
Great Egret  2
Belted Kingfisher  3
American Crow  X

Boiler Bay State Wayside, Lincoln, Oregon, US
Oct 28, 2020
13 species (+1 other taxa)
Surf Scoter  75
White-winged Scoter 2
Western Grebe  1
Black Oystercatcher  3
Common Murre  4
Marbled Murrelet  1
Western Gull  X
Glaucous-winged Gull  X
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)  X
Red-throated Loon  1
Pacific Loon  2
Pelagic Cormorant  30
Double-crested Cormorant  10
American Crow  X

Depoe Bay
9 species
Surf Scoter  X
Horned Grebe  3
Black Oystercatcher  9
Western Gull  X
Glaucous-winged Gull  X
Brandt’s Cormorant  1
Pelagic Cormorant  20
Peregrine Falcon  1
American Crow  X