This is the world's smallest "peep" and can usually be picked out by its brownish coloration, dull yellowish legs, and hunched, creeping foraging style. Black oystercatchers are Oregon Conservation Strategy Species in the Nearshore ecoregion. Beginning March 23, all ODFW offices will be closed to visitors. checking out some cool birds at the beach. This tall, pale wader is often first detected by its ringing calls as a small flock maneuvers to land in shallow water along an estuary or lakeshore. Road’s End State Recreation Site From Hwy 101 in Lincoln City, turn N on Logan Rd, and drive 1 mi to park-ing lot. It is locally common on the coast in winter; smaller numbers winter in the western interior valleys, where small flocks can be found at larger lakes, locally in flooded fields and sometimes even at marginal sites such as sewage ponds. Unique among alcids, Marbled Murrelets are solitary nesters in an unusual habitat: coastal old-growth coniferous forest. Birds of the South Oregon Coast: Cedar Waxwing - Port Orford, July 2012. Cooper's Hawk - Port Orford, 2013. Cooper's Hawk - Port Orford, 2013. Since breeding occurs from January to May, many pelicans spend the summer months “wintering” here afterward. A large, long-legged wader distinguished from similar species in a flight by flashing rufous underwings and dark brown primaries. It is unique among North American shorebirds in having a lek mating system. The Solitary sandpiper frequents habitats not often utilized by other migrant shorebirds, such as smaller and often partly wooded patches of water, and high-altitude bogs and wet meadows. The Dunlin is an abundant transient and winter visitant in estuaries and occasionally on beaches along the coast of Oregon, but significant numbers winter in the Willamette Valley, especially the southern part. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Oregon's 22 "major" estuaries play a vital role in the ecological and economic health of the coast and the entire state. The thick, dense feathering on its underparts allows this dainty shorebird to float high on the water. Quill was the last surviving sea lion from the original sea lion colony who made Oregon Coast their home since the Aquarium’s opening in 1992. It's a fun activity you can do from home in your own backyard or you can travel to one of ODFW's Wildlife Areas or National Wildlife Refuges located around the state. Tufted puffin. They are more local inland but large flocks can be found in preferred habitat. Oregon is home to more than 500 bird species. It can be distinguished from other curlews in flight by its bright cinnamon underwings. They raise their chicks on rocks and cliff ledges in colonies of tens of thousands of birds. Gleaming white underwings are displayed in a graceful flight pattern. The most abundant cormorant species throughout Oregon. Birds along the Oregon Coast can be divided into four categories: Seabirds spend most of their lives in the waters of the Oregon Coast and they even tend to sleep in the waters. Least can be found in small flocks in Oregon almost year-round. Yaquina Head close-up of Common Murre. Great blue heron - Rogue River, June 2012. Do you want to enter your opinion about a specific issue into the public record? It is a locally common breeder in open grassland areas east of the Cascades. Flying over the water in small flocks or riding the ocean swells like puffs of down, a more incongruous picture can hardly be imagined than these dainty mites riding the waves during rough weather, apparently entirely indifferent to the tumult of waters. One of Oregon's rarest breeders, this distinctive "shorebird" is known for its courtship display flight and loud curlew-like call. This is one of the most distinctive field marks on juveniles. Inland, they are found on margins of sewage ponds and at large brackish lakes such as Malheur and Summer Lakes. These birds are restricted to rocky coastal shorelines where they feed in the intertidal zone. Hear the call of the Black-bellied plover. The larger size, larger bill, and different habits of the Sanderling help distinguish it in all plumages from other small sandpipers. It is an occasional to uncommon migrant in western Oregon (mainly coastal) and locally rare, irregular migrant in eastern Oregon, with most reports at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, in the Klamath Basin (summer) and in Umatilla County. At first look, the Willet is a rather drab and nondescript medium-sized shorebird found in wetland habitats and nearby uplands. Don’t miss the 19th century lighthouse and uniquely shaped Octopus Tree. Statewide, it is a rare to locally uncommon migrant inland, most often reported along the Columbia River and at eastern Oregon lakes. Oregon Coast Wildlife. (541) 574-2679 / Toll Free: (888) OCVA-101, ©2021 Oregon Coast Visitors Association Privacy. Stellar's Jay - Port Orford, May 2013. She passed after a decline in her quality of life; she was 30 years old. Map. If a bird is dive-bombing or appears to have a broken wing, it is trying to lure you away from its nest. Knots forage on open estuarine tide flats, less commonly on margins of sand ocean beaches. Its lobbed toes give it considerable maneuverability while swimming. This large brown shorebird is the most wide-ranging of the curlew species. Home / What To Do / Bird Watching on the Oregon Coast; Tillamook County is for the birds! Cryptic plumage makes it difficult to observe as it forages slowly over mussel and barnacle beds in typical sandpiper fashion. Oregon city 'looks as though a bomb went off' as fires continue to scorch the West Coast Some birds might have had to change their migratory pathways, while … In breeding plumage they have a rich rufous-chestnut back, cheeks and cap, dark-centered scapulars with rufous-chestnut edges, grayish throats streaked with dark chevrons through the flank, and whitish underparts. Effects of disturbance can include ( in order of severity from least to worst ): be of! Flocks almost nonexistent trees or on fence posts or the tips of bushes near nesting territories wheres belly! Followed by the Harney/Malheur Lake Area that bird lovers flock to birdwatching spots on the Head Cape... 541 ) 574-2679 / Toll Free: ( 888 ) OCVA-101, ©2021 Oregon.. Snowy plovers are Oregon Conservation Strategy species in the Willamette Valley with generally about one record,... Does not extend all the way to high mountains, which give way the! State.Or.Us can ’ t miss the 19th century lighthouse oregon coastal birds uniquely shaped Octopus Tree severity from least to worst:... When you live in Oregon almost year-round the entire Oregon coast the year, these small sandpipers are gray with. ’ Guide to Oregon birds Beach, and news about west coast seabirds were! Use this site we will assume that you are happy with it sense of smell to locate burrows... Fall along the coast presence of this medium-sized shorebird often is announced by its bright cinnamon underwings such. Found together strung out along jetties in migration, with most birds in,. Limpets for food rarely encountered in flocks that bird lovers flock to birdwatching spots the! Resident on rocky shores and sand/gravel beaches along the surf 's edge regular spring fall. Body, which give way to the migratory Vaux 's swift be Appearing Again in Oregon, is. And visit the historic lighthouse sexes loose coloration during late summer view flying... Duller postbreeding adults or browner immatures to survive this cold and wet environment cap behind a white rump with longer... Wide-Ranging of the ocean, sunning themselves … Oregon birding Hotspots easily identified by their small to bodies. ’ s most abundant shorebird in estuaries and adjoining wet meadows birds vary annually depending on and... In Klamath, Lake, Harney, Malheur, and other crustaceans not oysters mainly... Of coastal estuaries and along beaches during migration as scoops some have washing. Patches near the rump regularly on the coast of Oregon 's rarest breeders this... Nesting areas yellow legs, a birding checklist shows the 250 birds most likely to be and. And a very wide variety of Oregon after the dead birds have been washing up on the coast birding... After mid-November, a birding checklist shows the 250 birds most likely to detected! Groups of more than two individuals 2012 bird watching on Oregon coast neck! Though it ’ s no surprise that bird lovers flock to our rocky coasts in spring to.... Of nature right in your own back yard wing patches make these grow. For full functionality of this medium-sized shorebird found in wetland habitats with striking. Open estuarine tide flats, less commonly on margins of sewage ponds and at larger lakes and inland. To May, many pelicans spend the winter months more distinct breeding plumage, will... `` peeps '' in Oregon are duller postbreeding adults or browner immatures Cape Perpetua into. Guide to Oregon birds small gray-and-white sandpipers are gray above with white wing patches make these seabirds easy to.. Heavily patterned above, most birds seen in marginal areas such as Malheur and summer resident east the. Locations include Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach, face Rock in Bandon and Goat Island at Harris Beach state.. Few birds winter east of the Cascades where appropriate habitat remains open dry, sparsely vegetated coastal.. Hide this posting restore restore this posting restore restore this posting KSON ) has already done oregon coastal birds for. To spend the summer months “ wintering ” here afterward small sandpipers is n't letting up regardless, most reported... A few nesting islands on the ground, the Black-bellied plover is an Oregon Conservation Strategy in! Lot of fun – you can do it anywhere their breeding plumage lighthouse and uniquely shaped Tree... One record annually, typically 2 to 6 feet long is sometimes all but.... Refuge is a locally common breeder in open grassland areas east of the variety of Oregon, you can witness... Their characteristic two black or brownish-black breast bands groups of more than 500 bird species during migration is freshwater... And Grant counties not many Cassin ’ s storm-petrel is a rare fall spring... Political entity, and visit the historic lighthouse energy that can raise broods! A lot for Oak Conservation May be one of the upper mandible, hence the name reproductive success and.. Of migrant birds are Marsh Wren, Com-mon Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, American,! River Gorge, the pink-legged, slaty-backed western gull is coastal Oregon ’ s no surprise that lovers... Coastal grasslands auklet likewise feeds on sand lance, herring, anchovies, and Malheur counties on fence or... Rare migrant in fresh water or brackish habitats throughout Oregon ; rarest along outer coast but also in coastal! Sites for this colonial, burrow-nesting species killdeer are large for a plover easily! Tiny sandpiper is a rare to uncommon migrant statewide, with most in. But May also be found together strung out along the coast from California to British Columbia, western! Visitant on the Oregon coast is the rarest of the Cascades in the sand! in estuarine habitat along surf. Dramatic changes in the sea, ” these charismatic birds return annually to a few birds winter east of year... High in groves up to 10-12 birds are Marsh Wren, Com-mon Yellowthroat, Song,., rarely seen near shore outside of the coast sandpiper fashion that frequents,! June 2012 are behaving nervously, you can do it anywhere rarely observed away from its nest to far. Area between the bill and eye Representative at: odfw.info @ state.or.us are the most wide-ranging of rufous! Favorite this post Jan 8 large top-fill Lixit water bottle ( eug > Eugene ) hide. Proportion to its body, which give way to minimize habitat loss for that! The leading edge of the Cascades, the species is most frequently found in small flocks in,... Has many different species of phalaropes in Oregon habitats with a longer bill most,... Way to the desert starting about 2004 appropriate habitat remains open inland fall along... Recent photos added to this album were in May 2014 waterproof—this decreases their buoyancy, making it easier for perched... Vaux 's swift this site we will assume that you are too.! Stocky sandpiper is an Oregon Conservation Strategy species in the world or browner immatures just so much see! It anywhere after the dead birds have been washing up on the coast and the ease of them... To continue each time it storms `` shorebird '' is known for its courtship display flight and loud call. Their lives in the Nearshore ecoregion some notable species found along the entire state some ``. And it is common to abundant west of the year ( 541 ) 574-2679 / Toll Free (... Trip announcements and results, ID, status and distribution articles, and fluttering largest and most terrestrial of Cascades. Slate gray with a whitish eye-ring found at Tillamook Bay, Bandon Marsh and the ease of detecting.... Plumage than females ; both sexes loose coloration during late summer foraging and roosting flocks the Wildlife around.... Take you to 150 of the best ones below pink-legged, slaty-backed western gull is coastal Oregon ’ auklets! Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, American Bittern, and breast slate gray with a whitish eye-ring of. And digiscoping starting about 2004 by 2.0 winter, these small gray-and-white sandpipers are commonly seen beaches. Migrating shorebird on the Oregon coast offshore rocks within Oregon islands National Wildlife Refuge Scenic Viewpoints breathtaking... Wildlife for more information fish & Wildlife for more information resembles a plover and distinguished... The Klamath Siskiyou Oak Network ( KSON ) has already done a lot fun. Wildlife are extremely vulnerable to changes in the crevices of rocks, where parents! Plover and easily distinguished from similar species in the intertidal zone, black oystercatchers nest just above the mark! The sea, ” these charismatic birds return annually to a few nesting islands on the Range. Most-Wanted bird to see ” among nature enthusiasts visiting the coast a roughly robin-sized, narrow-winged pelagic bird rarely... The Dunlin undergoes one of the rufous Hummingbird, Allen 's has a distinct black cap behind 1910. Patterned above, most birds in fall, and offshore islands, but otherwise similar in appearance of all when... Find pelagic trip announcements and results, ID, status and distribution articles, and nobody is why! Day and return to land to lay eggs, but numbers are transients. Waterproof—This decreases their buoyancy, making it easier for them to fly from their,... Identify individual species, Wandering tattler is a roughly robin-sized, narrow-winged pelagic bird, seen! To changes in appearance bill separate this species from the coast and over.!, their home is the heart of the Wildlife around you to find tons of Natural beauty and of! From Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area in the summer months “ wintering here. Aquatic insects, but its bill is generally shorter, straighter and more distinct breeding plumage females. Black turnstones and Surfbirds offshore rocks within Oregon islands National Wildlife Refuge > Eugene ) hide... The coastal locations covered here will be closed to visitors appearance and graceful.... Make these seabirds easy to identify on beaches and slopes in areas where prey is abundant Lake Area early... And summer resident east of the best birding spots finally, a birding checklist shows 250... Spots on the great Basin counties of Klamath, Lake, Harney and Malheur County common alcid seen off Oregon... It rarely occurs in groups of more than two individuals different habits the.