February 9, 2019

I’m continuing to find really birdy wetland/ponded areas in my 5MR.

Today’s 5MR birding spot was the Claggett Creek Natural Area. This 42-acre area is in NE Salem and is tucked in between Highway 99E and the railroad. The area is owned by the city.  Claggett Creek runs through the area,  there are two reservoirs, and wood-chipped walking trails provide pedestrian access. Parking appears to only be at the Kroc Center across the street. Very little information about this area is available online. A heads up that the area does have a few homeless camps and associated debris strewn about. We spent a little over an hour here and got 24 species.

Capture

Claggett Creek Natural Area; Salem, Oregon; Imagery 2018 Google, Map data 2018 Google.

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Claggett Creek Natural Area; Salem, Oregon; February 9, 2019; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

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Hooded Merganser (and an American Coot); Claggett Creek Natural Area; Salem, Oregon; February 9, 2019; photograph by Linda Burfitt. 

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Claggett Creek Natural Area; Salem, Oregon; February 9, 2019; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

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Ruddy Duck; Claggett Creek Natural Area; Salem, Oregon; February 9, 2019; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

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Claggett Creek Natural Area; Salem, Oregon; February 9, 2019; photograph by Linda Burfitt.

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Canvasback; Claggett Creek Natural Area; Salem, Oregon; February 9, 2019; photograph by Linda Burfitt.