Marys Peak, Benton County, Oregon
Two new species: Sooty Grouse and Hermit Warbler!
Forgot my “real” camera, so no bird shots. Also, views at the peak were smoky/hazy and not worthy of shots.
Hiking to Marys Peak; Benton County, Oregon; July 29, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.
Hiking to Marys Peak; Benton County, Oregon; July 29, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.
New Birds for 2018: 2
2018 Year-to-Date Talley: 214
On July 22, 2018, we ventured to the Elliott State Forest where we met up with other members of the Oregon Birding Association as well as a group call Coast Range Forest Watch, a volunteer-based group who surveys for the Marbled Murrelet, a federally threatened species.
We got started very early in the morning, hiking into the forest, and watching and listening, overhead, to the murrelets fly roundtrip between the ocean to their nests. This was exceptional.
Our forest hike yielded a few new species for my big year:
Marbled Murrelet
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Wrentit
Early morning Marbled Murrelet viewing; Elliott State Forest; Coos County, Oregon; July 22, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt (there are no murrelets in this photo, but this giant white patch of sky is where we watched their roundtrip flights).
Sifting for other birds with the OBA; Elliott State Forest; Coos County, Oregon; July 22, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.
Sifting for other birds with the OBA; Elliott State Forest; Coos County, Oregon; July 22, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.
After, we headed out to Cape Arago State Park, hoping to see the murrelets on the ocean. The weather was initially windy and misty, making visibility of the ocean pretty difficult. Within the hour, it cleared up, and I saw an additional four species:
Pacific Loon
Clark’s Grebe
Surfbird
California Gull
Pacific Loon; Cape Arago State Park (Simpson Reef/Shell Island Viewpoint); Coos County, Oregon; July 22, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.
Pacific Loons and Clark’s Grebes; Cape Arago State Park (Simpson Reef/Shell Island Viewpoint); Coos County, Oregon; July 22, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.
Cape Arago State Park (Simpson Reef/Shell Island Viewpoint); Coos County, Oregon; July 22, 2018; photograph by Linda Burfitt.
New Birds for 2018: 7
2018 Year-to-Date Talley: 212
Sauntering Birder 