North Coast Birding
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NORTH COAST Clatsop Spit Columbia River Astoria 5 K-GNAT C Hammond A ZIA R 9 R he northern coast of Oregon stretches from the mouth of the historic 8 6 3 D KNAPP 4 DOCK RD Columbia River south to fog-shrouded Cascade Head, an area of broad tidal Warrenton 1 T 7 30 2 estuaries and rugged headlands that flank long stretches of sandy beach. This 10 reach of coast includes the working port town of Astoria, the winter encampment To Portland of the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery at historical Fort Clatsop, the 11 12 Clatskanie charming arts community of Cannon Beach, and the town of Tillamook, home Rainier of famous cheese. Forty-three outstanding birding opportunities await you in 101 202 some of the most enchanting scenery on the coast. Whether you are looking for Gearhart Prescott Rufous Hummingbird and Blue Grouse amidst endemic wildflowers at Saddle 13 Seaside 14 Mountain, or Tufted Puffin nesting on Haystack Rock, you can find them here. 20 19 Saddle Mt. Tillamook Head Mist Be sure to venture out to Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint to see a Peregrine 21 22 Tillamook 15 Falcon aerie in late spring and summer. In Oceanside, get a close look at Three Rock Lighthouse Necanicum Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge, the oldest Refuge west of the Mississippi Junction 16 Jewell 23 Cannon River and habitat for thousands of nesting Common Murre. Explore the Coast 24 Beach Range mountain streams at the Nehalem Fish Hatchery and Henry Rierson Elsie Spruce Run Campground for bobbing American Dipper, and canopy dwellers Hermit Warbler and Golden-crowned Kinglet. 101 Neahkahnie 18 Mountain 17 26 elevation 53 1,661 feet 1. Gnat Creek Campground 2. Gnat Creek Fish Hatchery To Portland Nehalem River From Astoria, take US 30/Lower Co- From Astoria, take US 30/Lower Co- Manzanita 25 27 lumbia River Hwy E 18 mi (near MP lumbia River Hwy E 18.2 mi, turn R 26 78), turn N at Gnat Creek sign, and on Gnat Hatchery Rd to hatchery. Nehalem Bay Mohler proceed to campground. This hatchery boasts a show pond e Campground offers mixed alder, and public fishfood station with large n g a R second-growth Douglas-fir and Sitka rainbow trout and sturgeon. Two na- Spruce forest with excellent oppor- ture trails lead to Gnat Creek Camp- Rockaway Beach 32 28 Garibaldi t To Portland tunities to see Coast Range species, ground and Barrier Falls, and wind s 29 a including Mountain Quail, American through second-growth forest in the o T 33 illa Bay City C 30 Dipper, and Hermit Warbler in the Nicolai-Wickiup Watershed. Birds B m a o y o k breeding season. Hiking trail to Gnat include Hermit Warbler, American 31 n Cape Meares 34 6 o Ck. Fish Hatchery is 1.5-miles. Dipper, Steller’s Jay, Rufous Hum- g Lighthouse 35 r e mingbird, and Swainson’s and Varied Tillamook ABCFG Thrush. O Sponsor: National Forest Netarts Bay Foundation ACFG 36 101 Three 37 38 3. Ziak Wildlife Refuge Capes From Hwy. 30 in Knappa, turn N at Cape Lookout flashing light then second R onto Scenic 39 a y Blaine Rd r w t e Knappa Dock Rd. Drive 1 mi, turn W a S i c 40 Loop t a e n R on Ziak–Gnat Creek Ln. View birds Nestuccat e S c Hebo from the road, the valley on both River sides is part of the refuge. Open floodplain and freshwater Pacific City wetlands attract dabbling and div- Nestucca Bay 41 ing ducks. Nesting birds are Purple 22 18 Martin, Vaux’s Swift, and Killdeer, 101 Neskowin Beach Neskowin ER migrating shorebirds are Semipal- State Recreation Site To Salem LL mated Plover and Western and Least Cascade Head IS MI 42 O Sandpiper. The owners keep Trum- peter and Tundra Swans, Emperor Geese, and maintain Purple Martin 18 and Wood Duck nestboxes. PHOTO BY: L PHOTO BY: Lincoln City Western Grebes FGK 6 Siletz Bay 4. Twilight Creek Eagle including Northern Shoveler, scaup 7. Astoria Mitigation and Wood Duck throughout the fall Sanctuary Bank Wetlands HAMMOND Columbia From Hwy 101 in Astoria, go E 7 mi . and winter, and on rare occasions From Astoria, travel W on Hwy 101, River Turn N on Burnside Lp near MP 87, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal, and turn S south on W Marine Dr (Hwy then 1 mi to observation deck. Tufted Duck. 202), then L on Alt Hwy 101, and 13th View 35,000 acres of mudflats, tidal EFG stay as it makes an R curve at Miles 8 marshes, open water, and islands Crossing. After 1 mi, cross Lewis 9 NW Ridge Rd I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I and Clark River bridge; park at pull- protected as the Lewis and Clark I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I National Wildlife Refuge. The ref- I out along the elk fence on R. Visitors Peter IredaleFort Rd uge harbors large concentrations of must stay on diked trail system. Stevens State Hwy Fort Stevens waterfowl in winter, including Tun- Freshwater and tidal wetlands at- Park dra Swan and Canada goose. Bald tract many species of ducks in fall 16th St 16th 15th St 15th Main St 8th St 8th Irving St Eagle, Great Egret, and Great Blue and winter and migrating shorebirds Harbor Jerome St WARREnton Heron are seen year-round. in spring and fall. Virginia Rail, Sora, Coxcomb Dr and American Bittern are resident. In EFGK 6 winter the area is good for Swamp, 8. Warrenton Linear Park Sponsor: City of Seaside Lincoln’s, Golden-crowned, Savan- From Hwy 101 in Warrenton, turn W on Harbor St, which becomes Fort 7th St 7th ASTORIA nah, and Fox Sparrow. I I I I I I I I I I Stevens Hwy (N), then R on 13th St to I I I I I I Columbia River I I I I I I I I AEFGKL parking along street at the end. Trail I I I I I 6. Coxcomb Hill/ I I I I I I heads S along dike. I I I I I I 5 I I I I Astoria Column I I I Gravel trail system 2.5 miles long I I I I I I I I From Hwy 30 in Astoria, go S on 16th I I 7 I I I passes estuary, mudflat, and mixed I I I th I I I I St, R on Jerome St then L on 15 St. I AIRPORT I I forest offering views of a nesting Bald I I I I I I I I I 53rd St I Turn L on Coxcomb Dr and follow I Eagle plus Rufous Hummingbird, and around to parking lot at the top. Birch St Northern Flicker. In winter watch for Cedar St The Astoria Column, erected in 1926 45th 51st Bufflehead and American Wigeon, atop Coxcomb Hill, denotes the loca- ALT and in migration Whimbrel, Marbled tion of the first permanent American r ASTORIA e Godwit, Western and Least Sand- v i settlement west of the Rockies. Park- R k piper, and Black-bellied Plover. r a land, shrub-scrub and coniferous l C 5. Astoria Sewage d forest attract large concentrations of n AEFG a Ponds Overlook is w Sponsor: Oregon Coast Visitors th spring and fall migrating songbirds; e From Hwy 30 in Astoria, N on 45 St L st early morning visits can produce hun- Association turn R on Cedar St ,then L on 51 , Ft Clatsop Rd rd dreds of birds including Townsend’s turn R on Birch, then L on 53 and and Hermit Warbler, flycatchers, 10 9. Fort Stevens State Park follow ¼ mi to pullout. Continue past Fort Clatsop Western Tanager, and Black-headed National From Astoria take 101 S, turn E on gate on foot. and Evening Grosbeak. Hiking trails Memorial Harbor St, which becomes Fort Ste- Part of the lower Columbia River lead from Coxcomb Hill to downtown vens Hwy. Continue through the town Ecosystem, these municipal sewage Astoria and the Irving Forest. of Hammond, then turn L on Lake Rd, lagoons attract dowitchers, Dun- turn R to enter park. lin and Spotted Sandpiper during ACDEFG This popular park has beachcombing, migration and many duck species, Sponsor: City of Seaside lake swimming, trails, wildlife view- BIRDING TIP OM Watch the tide. Consult a tide S.C table before birding beaches PHOTO S W and estuaries. Shorebirds are URE T AN USF M NA G/ FF I best viewed during an incoming TH O I D E SM D L NE H or outgoing tide. Use caution Y AVI as some beaches may not be accessible at high tide. PHOTO BY: D PHOTO BY: PHOTO BY: WA PHOTO BY: PHOTO BY: KEVIN PHOTO BY: Harlequin Duck Sooty Shearwater Peregrine Falcon 77 sapsuckers and woodpeckers, and Pacific Way 15. Jewell Meadows Wildlife assorted Coast Range species. Management Area ACDEFG GEARHART From Astoria, drive 28 mi SE on Hwy Sponsor: Oregon Parks and S Ave Cottage 202 to refuge. From Hwy 26, go N on OM F St Hwy 103, 9 mi to Jewell, W on Hwy S.C Recreation Department G St 202 1.5 mi to refuge. PHOTO 11. Sunset Beach State Wellington Ave.