The WOS/OBA in-person joint annual conference that was scheduled for September 16-19, 2021 has been cancelled due to concerns about the spreading COVID Delta variant. Please read the joint letter from the WOS and OBA presidents for further information about the cancellation.
NOTE: THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ON THIS AND ALL OTHER CONFERENCE PAGES WAS PREPARED PRIOR TO THE CANCELLATION OF THE CONFERENCE AND IS NO LONGER VALID. THE PELAGIC TRIP IS INDEPENDENT OF THE CONFERENCE. PLEASE CHECK WITH OREGON PELAGIC TOURS FOR INFORMATION ABOUT TRIP STATUS.
Pelagic Boat Trip
Offshore Waters
Driving Time: Participants meet at the dock in Ilwaco, Washington, 30 minutes from Astoria
Spend a day on the Pacific Ocean searching for many species seldom seen from the shore. Oregon Pelagic Tours will offer a seagoing trip out of Ilwaco, on both Saturday Sept. 18 and Sunday Sept. 19 (time TBD). Registration will be handled by Oregon Pelagic Tours separately from conference registration, with the $200 fee to be paid directly to Oregon Pelagic Tours. Trip capacity is 18 participants. Target species (likely, but not guaranteed) include Black-footed Albatross; Sooty, Pink-footed and Buller’s Shearwaters; Northern Fulmar; Sabine’s Gull and other gulls; Arctic Tern; Tufted Puffin; Rhinoceros and Cassin’s Auklets; Red and Red-necked Phalaropes; and up to three cormorant species. Marine mammal possibilities include Harbor Porpoise, Dall’s Porpoise, Pacific White-sided Dolphin, Humpback and other whales; and Steller’s Sea Lion. These trips will do their best to spend time in both Oregon and Washington waters. Registration information is on the Oregon Pelagic Tours website; check there for the latest updates.
| Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| Saturday | Tim Shelmerdine | No | Yes |
| Sunday | Tim Shelmerdine | No | Yes |
Land-based Field Trips
Please note that WOS members are welcome to sign up for OBA field trips, and vice versa. The cost for all field trips (not including the pelagic trips, which will be offered outside our OBA/WOS registration process) will be $10.
Please note there is a “Table of All Trips” at the bottom of this page with key summary information about all trips that should help you select your preferred trips.
Any restrictions having to do with COVID (such as those relating to carpools, masking, social distancing and the like) will be determined by the jurisdictions involved. Since any restrictions can’t be known at the time of writing (in May), attendees will need to be flexible and understanding as circumstances change. However, it has been decided that proof of vaccination will be required for registration.
What to bring
Remember to bring your National Parks/Forest Pass, Discover Pass, Oregon Parks pass, and FRS radios to use during field trips. For your safety, become familiar with possible dangers in the area and arrive prepared. Intense sun, poison oak, rattlesnakes, ticks, mosquitoes, and steep/uneven terrain area are natural hazards in some areas. Select trips that are appropriate for your fitness level, both for your safety and in consideration of your trip co-participants.
eBirding
Whether or not to eBird a trip is left to the preferences of leaders and participants. Leaders are not expected to eBird for their groups, as they have many other things to be concerned about, but some may choose to do so. A “Yes” for eBird means the leader intends to keep an eBird trip list and share with others on the trip. “No” for eBirding means the leader will not be keeping a list, but, of course, attendees who wish to certainly may. “TBA” indicates the leader’s preference isn’t known.
Playback
A “Yes” indication for playback simply means the leader MAY use playback, sparingly. Participants are not allowed to use playback. “No” on playback means it will not be used at all. A TBA means that the leader’s preference isn’t known.
Departures
WOS and OBA field trips do not have the same departure times, so be sure to note whether your trip is a WOS or an OBA trip. All trips will depart from the Expo Hall parking lot.
6:00 a.m. Full-day WOS field trips depart
6:45 a.m. Full-day OBA field trips depart
6:30 a.m. Half-day WOS field trips depart
7:00 a.m. Half-day OBA field trips depart
Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the above departure times to check in with your trip leader and for the carpooling arrangements. Trip leaders will have signs with the trip name in the designated meeting area.
Reimburse your driver
It is the responsibility of the participants to reimburse their driver. Remind the driver to set the odometer before departure. WOS recommends that drivers be reimbursed by a rate of 0.25 per mile divided by the number of passengers in the car (not including the driver). For example if a trip is 100 miles in length and three passengers are in the car, each person would contribute $8.33 for mileage reimbursement to the driver.
Conference Field Trips
Russ Koppendrayer and Andrew Emlen prepared the list of WOS trips. Ken Brown arranged the leaders. Erik Bergman prepared the list of OBA trips and arranged the leaders.
Full-day Trips
1. (WOS) Kalama to Woodland
Cowlitz County
Driving time: 1 hour 20 minutes to first planned birding stop
Sites include: Kress Lake, Sportsmen Club Road, Kalama River mouth, Kalama Marina, Woodland Bottoms
Approximately 1.5 miles of walking on level, well-maintained trails, with other stops at pull-outs and dead-end roads. Habitat will be riparian, agricultural fields and Columbia River overlooks. Early returning Sandhill Cranes are possible. If the winds are favorable, there can be a good raptor migration, sometimes including impressive movements of hundreds of Turkey Vultures. Black Phoebe and White-breasted Nuthatch are resident at the northern end of their expected range. In the riparian areas we could find nice movements of migrating flycatchers, vireos and warblers of numerous species, as well as more common resident species.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| WOS/F01 | Friday | Randy Hill | Yes | No |
| WOS/Sa01 | Saturday | Shep Thorp | Yes | Yes |
| WOS/Su01 | Sunday | Bob Flores | No | Yes |
2. (WOS)Longview to Toutle
Cowlitz County
Driving time: 1 hour 30 minutes to first planned birding stop
Sites include: Lexington Riverside Park, riparian areas along the Cowlitz River, Seaquest State Park, Canal Road, Longview (former) Sewage Ponds and Willow Grove
Expect to walk 2-3 miles on good trails and roads with mostly flat terrain. Habitats will include wetlands, riparian, mixed forest, agricultural fields and river overlooks. Possible species include Virginia Rail, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Hutton’s Vireo, Marsh Wren, Black-throated Gray Warbler as well as a mix of waterfowl and migrant passerines.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| WOS/F02 | Friday | Russ Koppendrayer and Becky Kent | Yes | Yes |
| WOS/Su02 | Sunday | Tom Bancroft | No | Yes |
3. (WOS) Grays Bay IBA to Julia Butler Hansen NWR
Wahkiakum County
Driving time: Roughly 45 minutes to first planned birding stop (about 100 miles round trip, including ferry back to Oregon)
Sites include: Grays Bay, Altoona-Pillar Rock, Skamokawa Vista Park, Julia Butler Hansen NWR, Hornstra Beach Spit
This trip focuses on the western portion of Wahkiakum County, starting with the IBA at Grays Bay. Because it’s hard to see much of the bay from public land, we’ve secured permission to stop at some private sites on Miller Point to scope the bay for shorebirds and check for migrating songbirds. A large colony of White Pelicans have nested on nearby Miller Sands since 2008 and should still be foraging in the bay, along with loons and many species of waterfowl. We’ll then move to the Altoona-Pilar Rock area to scan the main river. As this is the farthest extent of the brackish water in the Columbia Estuary, it’s the best place to find saltwater species in Wahkiakum County, such as Pelagic Cormorant and the three scoter species. We will continue eastward along Barr and Covered Bridge Roads through the bottomlands of Grays River before crossing over KM Hill to Skamokawa. Skamokawa Vista Park will afford a chance to pick up a few forest species before heading to the Julia Butler Hansen NWR. We can walk the White-tail trail in search of shorebirds and waterfowl, then out Hornstra Beach Spit for more shorebirds and gulls. We might have time to check a few places among the farmlands of Puget Island before catching the ferry back to Oregon for the return to Astoria.
| Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) | |
| WOS/F03 | Friday | Michael Hobbs | Yes | No |
| WOS/Sa03 | Saturday | Jim Danzenbaker | No | Yes |
| WOS/Su03 | Sunday | Cindy McCormack | No | Yes |
4. (WOS) Puget Island to the Brooks Slough area of Julia Butler Hansen NWR
Wahkiakum County
Driving time: Roughly 1 hour to first planned birding stop (total distance about 80 miles, including ferry from Westport, OR to Puget Island)
Sites include: Puget Island, Cathlamet, Beaver Creek Road, Indian Jack Slough, Brooks Slough
This trip emphasizes the eastern half of Wahkiakum County. We’ll begin by taking the ferry from Westport, Oregon to Puget Island. Most of the island is cottonwoods and open farmland, good for flocks of migrating warblers and year-round home for species such as Black Phoebe and Red-shouldered Hawk. We can also check out an old barn or two for Barn Owls. We’ll then move from the island to Cathlamet and up the Elochoman Valley to Beaver Creek. Beaver Creek Road reaches an elevation of about 1500 feet, and we may find MacGillivray’s Warbler, Canada Jay and Sooty Grouse. Then we’ll descend to the bottomlands, where we can explore the Columbia Land Trust’s property at Indian Jack Slough and the Brooks Slough area of the Julia Butler Hansen NWR. Returning toward Astoria, we may stop at Oneida Road to check a portion of Gray’s Bay.
| Trip. No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| WOS/F04 | Friday | Shep Thorp | Yes | Yes |
| WOS/Sa04 | Saturday | Bob Flores | No | Yes |
| WOS/Su04 | Sunday | Randy Hill | Yes | No |
5. (WOS) Fort Columbia to Stringtown Road
Pacific County
Driving time: 25 minutes to first planned birding stop
Sites include: Fort Columbia State Park, town of Chinook, Chinook Valley and Stringtown Road
Except at Fort Columbia, all the walking will be on flat ground and mostly fairly close to our vehicles. Habitats include forest, wetland, Columbia River, riparian and open fields. Waterfowl, loons, grebes, shorebirds, gulls, raptors and resident and migrant passerines will all be sought. Virginia Rail, Red-shouldered Hawk and Black Phoebe have all occurred along this route in recent years.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| WOS/F05 | Friday | Cindy McCormack | No | Yes |
| WOS/Sa5 | Saturday | Brian Bell | Yes | No |
6. (WOS) Cape Disappointment State Park and Ilwaco
Pacific County
Driving time : 40 minutes to first planned birding stop
Sites include: State park sites include Beard’s Hollow, North Head Lighthouse, McKenzie and O’Neil Lakes and the North Jetty area.
After the Cape Disappointment area has been explored, in Ilwaco the marina and the Lake Street Access to view Baker Bay will be visited. Among the habitats will be open ocean, rocky and sandy shoreline, forest, marshes, lakes, and Columbia River shoreline. Bird species could include Brown Pelican (American White Pelican is less likely here), Sooty Shearwater, diving ducks, loon, and grebes. Three cormorant species are possible, along with shorebirds and migrant passerines.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| WOS/F06 | Friday | Bruce LaBar | Yes | Yes |
| WOS/Sa06 | Saturday | Michael Hobbs | Yes | No |
| WOS/Su06 | Sunday | Steve Giles | Yes | Yes |
7. (WOS) Southeast Willapa Bay
Pacific County
Driving time : Approximately 30 minutes to first planned birding stop
Sites include: Willapa Bay pull-outs along US 101, Willapa NWR Headquarters, Government Road, Lynn Point Road, N. Nemah Road and Hatchery, Palix River along Dike Road, Bush Pioneer Park and Bay Center, and Bone River mouth.
Habitats include shallow saltwater bay, river estuaries, mature and recently replanted forests, and open pastures. Waterfowl and shorebirds should be found in the tidelands, as well as migrant passerines in the various types of vegetation. American Dippers, a difficult species in Pacific County, are regular at the Nemah Hatchery. The nice habitats along this route are definitely under-birded and we could make some interesting discoveries here.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| WOS/F07 | Friday | Scott Ramos | Yes | Yes |
| WOS/Sa07 | Saturday | Marcus Roening and Heather Ballash | TBA | TBA |
| WOS/Su07 | Sunday | Ed Pullen and Ken Brown | Yes | Yes |
8. (WOS) South Bend to Grayland
Pacific County
Driving time: 1 hour 40 minutes to first planned birding stop
Sites include: South Bend waterfront, Willapa Landing Park in Raymond, Willapa Harbor Airport, Tokeland, North Cove, Midway Beach, and Grayland Beach State Park
This trip could provide a number of prizes. Among them would be long-legged shorebirds at Tokeland such as Marbled Godwit, Long-billed Curlew and Willet, as well as Snowy Plover and Horned Larks at Midway Beach and/or Grayland Beach. The anticipation of rarities will be felt at a number of these spots, as they have been recorded frequently. Surprise shorebirds have been found on numerous occasions at both Midway Beach (rubber boots may be needed) and Tokeland. Vagrant passerines have been found in fall in Tokeland as well as Willapa Landing Park.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| WOS/F08 | Friday | Tim Boyer and Roland Kilcher | No | No |
| WOS/Sa08 | Saturday | Penny Rose, Scott Hoskin and Dennis Paulson | No | Yes |
| WOS/Su08 | Sunday | Tim Boyer and Roland Kilcher | No | No |
9. (WOS) Long Beach Peninsula and Leadbetter Point
Pacific County
Driving time: Approximately 1 hour to first planned birding stop
Sites include: Nahcotta, Oysterville, and the Leadbetter Point Unit of Willapa NWR
A major part of this trip will be a hike at Willapa NWR. Bay Loop Trail follows the bay north from the parking lot, then Bearberry Trail crosses the peninsula to the beach of the open ocean. From here you can turn north along the beach. Most years in mid-September hiking boots will be sufficient on these trails, but it might be wise to be prepared with rubber boots. There will likely be migrating passerines in the vegetation on the peninsula and many shorebirds on the mudflats of the bay, in the saltmarsh and on the open beach. Many rarities have turned up here over the years, and Snowy Plover regularly nest and are seen on the open beach. This round-trip distance would be 6-7 miles on flat, but at times squishy, ground. Stops will also be made at Oysterville, Nahcotta and other sites on the Peninsula at the leader’s discretion and if time allows.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| WOS/F09 | Friday | Alex Patia | TBA | TBA |
| WOS/Sa09 | Saturday | Jason Fidorra | Yes | Yes |
| WOS/Su09 | Sunday | Alex Patia | TBA | TBA |
10. (OBA) Nehalem Bay State Park Area
Clatsop County, Tillamook County
We will concentrate our energy on Nehalem Bay, which features a bay and long sand spit. We will also stop by several sites to and fro, depending on what birds are being seen in the area.
This trip will look for shorebirds in Nehalem Bay State Park, which features a mixture of habitats including estuary, pine forests and ocean beach. Along the way we will stop at a number of hotspots, including Silver Point, as well as look for migrant songbirds and waterfowl. Wrentit and Snowy Plover are possible.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| OBA/Sa10 | Saturday | Stefan Schlick | Yes | Yes |
| OBA/Su10 | Sunday | Brodie Cass Talbott | No | Yes |
11. (OBA) Saddle Mountain State Natural Area
Clatsop County
Driving time: 55 minutes to first planned birding stop
This trip will feature a 5-mile round trip hike of moderate difficulty due to some steep sections while climbing Saddle Mountain. Total elevation gained is around 1,900 feet. The payback for our efforts is a stunning view on a clear day of multiple Coast Range peaks, Cascade volcanoes and coastal bays. Habitats include conifer forest, deciduous forest, and high-elevation coastal meadow. In addition to resident forest birds, we’ll be looking for migrant warblers and sparrows, migrant open-ground birds such as Horned Lark and American Pipit, and migrating raptors. Wear sturdy hiking boots/shoes and bring water and a rain jacket.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| OBA/Sa11 | Saturday | Joseph Blowers | No | Yes |
| OBA/Su11 | Sunday | Joseph Blowers | No | Yes |
12. (OBA) Cannon Beach Area
Clatsop County
Driving time: 45 minutes to first planned birding stop
Join Oregon Coast residents Hannah and Erik to see where the locals bird in the Cannon Beach area. Plus, you’ll learn about the global status of shorebirds from Lisa Schibley, North America coordinator for Manomet, and how you can participate in the International Shorebird Survey. Sites include Silver Point Overlook, Haystack Rock, and the Cannon Beach Settling Ponds and Nature Trail. We’ll check out the surf for sea ducks, forests for Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Fox Sparrows, and ponds for American Wigeons and Northern Shovelers. Anticipate short drives between spots and easy walks of up to a mile per stop. Hannah and Erik will provide a scope. Feel free to use theirs or bring your own.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| OBA/Sa12 | Saturday | Hannah Buschert, Erik Ostrander | No | Yes |
13. (OBA) Lower Columbia River East of Astoria
Clatsop County
Driving time: 15 minutes to first planned birding stop
Sites include: John Day County Park, Brownsmead area, Twilight Eagle Sanctuary, Svensen Island, Big Creek County Park and Fish Hatchery
We will look for early fall migrants and residents in the bottomlands, fields, marshes and forests along the Lower Columbia River east of Astoria. John Day County Park is our first stop and restroom break. Further sites include Twilight Eagle Sanctuary, Svensen Island, the scenic Brownsmead area and a lunch stop with restrooms at Big Creek Fish Hatchery. We may be communicating via handheld radios in certain locations due to lack of parking, so bring walkie-talkies if you have them. Most of the birds will be summer breeding populations, with some early migrants on their way south. We’ll seek out raptors, waterfowl, shorebirds, passerines and American Dipper.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| OBA/Sa13 | Saturday | Julian Hwa | No | No |
| OBA/Su13 | Sunday | Julian Hwa | No | No |
Half-day Trips
14. (WOS) Cape Disappointment State Park
Pacific County
Driving time: 20 minutes to first planned birding stop
This trip will try to hit the highlights of a park that can easily take a full day to bird thoroughly. Beard’s Hollow will feature a short, level walk along a wetland, through a brushy area, and out to an open beach with some large rocky features. North Head Lighthouse will be a short level walk along large conifers to the overlook of the ocean and the rocky bluffs at the lighthouse. Lake O’Neil and McKenzie Lagoon can be checked, as well as Waikiki Beach. The short uphill walk to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center overlook is another possibility. Birds seen should include Brown Pelicans, loons and grebes, scoters and migrant passerines.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| WOS/Sa14 | Saturday | Bruce LaBar | Yes | Yes |
| WOS/Su14 | Sunday | Jason Fidorra | Yes | Yes |
15. (WOS) Ilwaco to Chinook Valley
Pacific County
Driving time: 30 minutes to first planned birding stop
The marina and views of Baker Bay could have shorebirds and early returning waterfowl. The vegetation along Stringtown Road near the airport can be excellent for migrating passerines, and other stops can be good, as well. The mix of wooded and open habitats along Cross Dike Road and Chinook Valley Road is a great spot for raptors as well as migrant passerines. Both Red-shouldered Hawk and Black Phoebe have become more frequently seen in this area. All walking is on level ground, mostly at the roadside.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| WOS/Sa15 | Saturday | Steve Giles | Yes | Yes |
| WOS/Su15 | Sunday | Marcus Roening and Heather Ballash | TBA | TBA |
16. (WOS) Fort Columbia State Park to Chinook Road
Pacific County
Driving time: 20 minutes to first planned birding stop
The state park will offer short trails through forest, open areas around the old gun emplacements, and views of the Columbia River. This area is a bit hilly. In the town of Chinook, sites to be visited include Chinook County Park, the fish hatchery, the boat basin and Prince Street access point to the Columbia River. There is a wetland on the way to the hatchery that usually contains Virginia Rail, as well as other species of that habitat. There also should be migrant passerines in this area. The stops along the river and at the marina should have gulls, terns, waterfowl and possibly shorebirds. Finally, a stop along Lingenfelter Road could produce a few raptors to add to the day list.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| WOS/Su16 | Sunday | Scott Ramos | Yes | Yes |
17. (OBA) Fort Stevens Shorelines
Clatsop County
Driving time: 25 minutes to first planned birding stop
Sites include: Fort Stevens SP–Parking Area D, Fort Stevens SP–South Jetty/Parking Area C, Hammond, Fort Stevens SP–Historic Area. (Note: All these sites are eBird hotspots.)
We will start at Fort Stevens State Park –Parking Area D and walk about 1 mile on the Columbia River beach to look for shorebirds such as Semipalmated Plover, Black-bellied Plover, and Marbled Godwit. Drive to Fort Stevens SP–South Jetty/Parking Area C (5 min.), then walk less than 100 yards to scan the ocean and beach for grebes, loons, and shorebirds. Spotting scopes are recommended for this stop. Drive to Hammond (10 min.) and check the boat basin jetty for Heermann’s Gull, Brown Pelican, and cormorants. Then walk through the gate to Ft Stevens SP—Historic Area and walk about 1 mile total to explore the grassy fields and look for warblers. There are outhouses at Parking Area D and Parking Area C, and restrooms at the Historic Area. No parking permits will be needed.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| OBA/Sa17 | Saturday | Diana Byrne | No | Yes |
| OBA/Su17 | Sunday | Diana Byrne | No | Yes |
18. (OBA) Fort Stevens Area
Clatsop County
Driving time: 25 minutes to first planned birding stop
Sites include: Fort Stevens SP–Parking Area D, Fort Stevens SP–South Jetty/Parking Area C, Hammond Boat Basin, Fort Stevens SP–Historic Area. (Note: All sites are eBird hotspots.)
We will start at Hammond Boat Basin, looking for Heermann’s Gull, Brown Pelican and terns. Then we’ll walk through the gate to Ft. Stevens SP—Historic Area and walk about 1 mile total to explore the grassy fields and look for migrant songbirds. From there, we will drive to Fort Stevens State Park–Parking Area D and walk along the Columbia River beach to look for shorebirds such as Semipalmated Plover, Black-bellied Plover, and Marbled Godwit. Depending on construction, we may also scan for seabirds like shearwaters at Fort Stevens SP–South Jetty/Parking Area C. Spotting scopes are recommended for this stop. There are outhouses at Parking Area D and Parking Area C, and restrooms at the Historic Area. No parking permits will be needed.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| OBA/Sa18 | Saturday | Sarah Swanson and Max Smith | No | Yes |
19. (OBA) Astoria Airport Mitigation Wetland and Dike Trail
Clatsop County
Driving time: 10 to 15 minutes to the site
We will walk up to two miles, but the pace will be leisurely and on level ground along the dike trail between the airport and upper Youngs Bay. If conditions are good, the mix of open water, tidal mudflats, marshy wetlands, willow/alder thickets and open grassy pasturelands should allow us to find a nice mix of upwards of 70 species. We will be birding the wetlands and exposed mudflats on Youngs Bay on the incoming tide, which should provide opportunities to see Marbled Godwit, Whimbrel and Black-bellied Plovers. Least and Western Sandpipers, perhaps some Dunlin and Semipalmated Plovers might also be expected. In the wet brushy margins we should encounter a variety of migrant passerines (sparrows and warblers) and hopefully some rails. The wetlands usually have yellowlegs, dowitchers and often Pectoral Sandpipers at this time of year. The pasturelands usually attract migrant raptors, grassland birds and sparrows at this season. Rarities are possible and we will do our best to find some. Participants are encouraged to bring spotting scopes. Aside from perhaps trying to coax some rails to vocalize, we won’t use playback.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| OBA/Sa19 | Saturday | Dave Irons and Shawneen Finnegan | No | Yes |
| OBA/Su19 | Sunday | Nick Martens and Maureen Leong-Kee | No | Yes |
20. (OBA) Photographer-Friendly Trip to Hammond Boat Basin and Fort Stevens State Park
Clatsop County
Driving time: 18 minutes to first planned birding stop
This trip will feature at least three primary sites: Hammond Boat Basin; Fort Stevens Park Area D, and Coffenbury Lake. (Jetty construction in Fort Stevens State Park may require modification of specific site, TBD.) The trip will be photographer-friendly, meaning we are less interested in compiling a long species list than we are in achieving some nice photographs. Given the right opportunities (never guaranteed), we will linger a little longer with a bird or group of birds than necessary for a quick ID, perhaps considering birds in their environmental context, not just as subjects for tight, closely cropped portraits. There will be limited walking on easy terrain. Bring photo equipment of your choice, possibly including tripods and long and medium lenses. Note: Coffenbury Lake requires a $5 parking permit. Fort Stevens has bathroom facilities.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| OBA/Sa20 | Saturday | Michael Krall | No | No |
21. (OBA) Seaside and Gearhart
Clatsop County
Driving time: 30 minutes to first planned birding stop
Sites include: Seaside Cove, Necanicum River Estuary, Seaside Treatment Plant, and Neawanna Wetland, with additional short stops or chasing local rarities that may be around.
All walking will be short walks of less than a mile with some uneven footing on the rocky beach at Seaside Cove. Habitat types include rocky beach, open ocean, sandy river estuary, beach, and wetlands. We will be looking for waterfowl, loons, grebes, gulls, and rockpipers at Seaside Cove; shorebirds, gulls, and waterfowl at Necanicum River Estuary; and migrant passerines at the treatment plant and wetland. Target birds include Harlequin Duck, all three scoters, Surfbird, possibly Sooty Shearwater, Green Heron, maybe Buff-breasted Sandpiper, and various other shorebirds.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| OBA/Sa21 | Saturday | Philip Kline | No | Yes |
| OBA/Su21 | Sunday | Erik Bergman | No | Yes |
22. (OBA) Wireless Road, Young’s Bay and Astoria Airport Mitigation Wetlands
Clatsop County
Driving Time: 10 minutes to first planned birding stop
Enjoy more birding, less driving, by visiting productive sites close to Astoria. A main attraction is Wireless Road, a hotspot with an all-time species count of 182 and a long history of rarities. Agricultural fields, pastures, sloughs, ponds and thickets attract a broad range of waterfowl, shorebirds, gulls, raptors and sparrows. Young’s Bay boasts a species list of 130, so we will be scanning the water for geese, ducks, cormorants and gulls. We will also walk the dike trail at the Astoria Airport Mitigation Wetlands for a look into a rich estuary and marsh ecosystem.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| OBA/Sa22 | Saturday | Jay Withgott | No | Yes |
23. (OBA) Shorebirds for Beginners on Clatsop Beaches
Clatsop County
Driving time: 20 minutes to first planned birding stop
Puzzled by peeps? Join Bob Archer for a morning on the beaches of Clatsop County studying shorebirds. The trip will concentrate on identification details of all the common species. We will do some beach driving, so we will need to figure out carpooling at the fairgrounds. Low tide is at 6:15 a.m. so an early start would be best. Plan on hitting Necanicum Estuary, Sunset Beach, Fort Stevens Parking Lot D and, as the tide rises, the River Beach at the Columbia. The River Beach involves about a three-mile walk; depending on the tide, time and birds, the Parking Lot D stretch might mean we get some wet feet. Expected species will be Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Snowy Plover and Sanderling. Possible are larger plovers, dowitchers, Pectoral Sandpipers and others.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| OBA/Su23 | Sunday | Bob Archer | No | No |
24. (OBA) Let’s Go Birding Together (LGBTQIA+) Walk at Sunset Beach
Clatsop County
Driving time: 20 minutes to first planned birding stop
Sites include: Sunset Beach Recreation Site, a 120-acre park with an ADA accessible boardwalk, access to the beach, and the west trailhead of the 6.5-mile Fort-to-Sea Trail.
A morning walk of up to 2 miles that welcomes those who identify as LGBTQIA+, their families and allies, and want to enjoy a birding experience that is inclusive. We’ll start at the paved parking lot of the Sunset Beach Recreation site and walk the ADA accessible boardwalk to the beach. Depending on the birds seen along the way and on the beach, we may retrace our steps to the parking area and then venture onto a portion of the 6.5-mile Fort-to-Sea Trail. Possible species that may be of interest: Black Phoebe, Western Bluebird, Red Crossbill and Wrentit. No special equipment needed.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| OBA/Su24 | Sunday | Tom Myers | No | Yes |
25. (OBA) Columbia River Mouth
Clatsop County
Driving time: 30 minutes to first planned birding stop
Sites include: Hammond Boat Basin, South Jetty of Columbia R., Parking Lot C, Parking Lot D
We will visit the Hammond boat basin and view the Columbia River, then continue to the South Jetty of the Columbia. We will view the ocean from the observation platform (if it has reopened) and may walk to the river beach. At Parking Lot D we will view the river and also Trestle Bay. Species seen in these areas include Snowy Plover, Pacific Golden-Plover, Hudsonian Godwit, Red Knot, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Baird’s Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Red-necked Phalarope, Wandering Tattler, Parasitic Jaeger, Heermann’s Gull, Elegant Tern and Purple Martin.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| OBA/Su25 | Sunday | Paul Sullivan | No | No |
26. (OBA) Bird Your Way Home to the South
Clatsop County, Tillamook County
Driving time: 25 minutes to first planned birding stop
Sites include: Necanicum Estuary, Cannon Beach Settling Ponds, Manzanita, Nehalem
This one-way trip is designed for folks heading home to the south or who want to loop back to the Portland area from Nehalem or Tillamook. We will head south, sampling several coastal areas as we go. We will survey the Necanicum Estuary in Gearhart/Seaside, then check the beaches and walk around the settling ponds at Cannon Beach. Finally we will check hotspots near Manzanita and Nehalem. Participants are welcome to stay till the end or to peel off early.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| OBA/Su26 | Sunday | Jay Withgott | No | Yes |
27. (OBA) International Shorebird Survey
Clatsop County
Driving time: 20 minutes to first planned birding stop
Sites include: Necanicum Estuary, Sunset Beach and Fort Stevens State Park
Bird locally, think globally! On this unique trip you will seek out fall migrants on the beaches of Clatsop County as you gain an understanding of shorebird status worldwide and how you can participate in Manomet’s International Shorebird Survey. Trip leaders are a local birding expert and the North America Coordinator for Manomet. The trip includes some beach driving and we will arrange carpooling at the fairgrounds. Sites include Necanicum Estuary, Sunset Beach and Fort Stevens State Park. Expected species will be Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Snowy Plover and Sanderling. Possible are larger plovers, dowitchers, Pectoral Sandpipers and others.
| Trip No. | Day | Leaders | Playback (Y/N) | eBird (Y/N) |
| OBA/Su27 | Sunday | Stefan Schlick and Lisa Schibley | Yes | Yes |
Table of All Trips
| Trip. No. | Trip Name | Full/Half | Leader | Fri | Sat | Sun |
| WOS/01 | 1. (WOS) Kalama to Woodland | Full | Randy Hill – Fri Shep Thorp – Sa Bob Flores – Su |
X | X | X |
| WOS/02 | 2. (WOS) Longview to Toutle | Full | Russ Koppendrayer and Becky Kent – Fri Tom Bancroft – Su |
X | X | |
| WOS/03 | 3. (WOS) Grays Bay IBA to Julia Butler Hansen NWR | Full | Michael Hobbs – Fri Jim Danzenbaker – Sa Cindy McCormack – Su |
X | X | X |
| WOS/04 | 4. (WOS) Puget Island to the Brooks Slough area of Julia Butler Hansen NWR | Full | Shep Thorp – Fri Bob Flores – Sa Su – Randy Hill |
X | X | X |
| WOS/05 | 5. (WOS) Fort Columbia to Stringtown Road | Full | Cindy McCormack – Fri Brian Bell – Sa |
X | X | |
| WOS/06 | 6. (WOS) Cape Disappointment State Park and Ilwaco | Full | Bruce LaBar – Fri Michael Hobbs – Sa Steve Giles – Su |
X | X | X |
| WOS/07 | 7. (WOS) Southeast Willapa Bay | Full | Scott Ramos – Fri Marcus Roening and Heather Ballash – Sa Ed Pullen and Ken Brown – Su |
X | X | X |
| WOS/08 | 8. (WOS) South Bend to Grayland | Full | Tim Boyer and Roland Kilcher – Fri Penny Rose, Scott Hoskin and Dennis Paulson – Sa Tim Boyer and Roland Kilcher – Su |
X | X | X |
| WOS/09 | 9. (WOS) Long Beach Peninsula and Leadbetter Point | Full | Alex Patia – Fri Jason Fidorra – Sa Alex Patia – Su |
X | X | X |
| OBA/10 | 10. (OBA) Nehalem Bay State Park Area | Full | Stefan Schlick – Sa Brodie Cass Talbott – Su |
X | X | |
| OBA/11 | 11. (OBA) Saddle Mountain State Natural Area | Full | Joseph Blowers – Sa and Su | X | X | |
| OBA/12 | 12. (OBA) Cannon Beach Area | Full | Hannah Buschert, Erik Ostrander – Sa | X | ||
| OBA/13 | 13. (OBA) Lower Columbia River East of Astoria | Full | Julian Hwa – Sa and Su | X | X | |
| WOS/14 | 14. (WOS) Cape Disappointment State Park | Half | Bruce LaBar – Sa Jason Fidorra – Su |
X | X | |
| WOS/15 | 15. (WOS) Ilwaco to Chinook Valley | Half | Steve Giles – Sa Marcus Roening and Heather Ballash – Su |
X | X | |
| WOS/16 | 16. (WOS) Fort Columbia State Park to Chinook Road | Half | Scott Ramos – Su | X | ||
| OBA/17 | 17. (OBA) Fort Stevens Shorelines | Half | Diana Byrne – Sa and Su | X | X | |
| OBA/18 | 18. (OBA) Fort Stevens Area | Half | Sarah Swanson and Max Smith – Sa | X | ||
| OBA/19 | 19. (OBA) Astoria Airport Mitigation Wetland and Dike Trail | Half | Dave Irons and Shawneen Finnegan – Sa Nick Martens and Maureen Leong-Kee – Su |
X | X | |
| OBA/20 | 20. (OBA) Photographer-Friendly Trip to Hammond Boat Basin and Fort Stevens State Park | Half | Michael Krall – Sa | X | ||
| OBA/21 | 21. (OBA) Seaside and Gearhart | Half | Philip Kline – Sa Erik Bergman -Su |
X | X | |
| OBA/22 | 22. (OBA) Wireless Road, Young’s Bay and Astoria Airport Mitigation Wetlands | Half | Jay Withgott – Sa | X | ||
| OBA/23 | 23.(OBA) Shorebirds for Beginners on Clatsop Beaches | Half | Bob Archer – Su | X | ||
| OBA/24 | 24. (OBA) Let’s Go Birding Together (LGBTQIA+) Walk at Sunset Beach | Half | Tom Myers – Su | X | ||
| OBA/25 | 25. (OBA) Columbia River Mouth | Half | Paul Sullivan – Su | X | ||
| OBA/26 | 26. (OBA) Bird Your Way Home to the South | Half | Jay Withgott – Su | X | ||
| OBA/27 | 27. (OBA) International Shorebird Survey | Half | Stefan Schlick and Lisa Schibley – Su | X |