Tillamook.

February is not exactly prime birding time.  It's not the worst, but well, maybe it is.  This week I got out a couple times and was rather unimpressed both times.  I figured getting out of town for the day would help, so I took the dogs out to Tillamook yesterday.  We started with a two hour walk at Tillamook Bay Wetlands.


There were lots of good birds around but still had no luck finding a kite.  A flock of Red Crossbills accompanied us on much of our walk...


A harrier was cruising up and down one of the waterways, eventually landing on a log. 


A trio of Bald Eagles were guarding the wetlands, or just ya know, hanging out.


Common Loon

After this walk we headed over to Bayocean Spit where things were eerily quiet.  On the beach were hundreds of Dunlin with a few dozen Sanderlings, but those were the only birds I saw besides one Western-ish Gull.


The dogs were stoked on the beach though, and I felt pretty confident I drained them of energy and piss.


After the spit I drove up to Bay City Oysters to check out the little jetty.  Nothing unusual but a bunch of Black Turnstones were crawling all over. 


That was about it... While at the oyster place I met a couple of birders who had also been at the wetlands earlier- they said they saw a kite right in the parking mudpit.  So of course I stopped there on the way home to check again.  Nope, again.  Just a Red-shouldered Hawk.  Ah well, the dogs are tired!  Good times.

Comments

  1. Jen, you got some neat shots from your outing. Love the Dunlins in flight and the dogs running together. I would like to see the Black Turnstones. And the wetland scenery is beautiful. Nice report! Happy Birding!

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  2. Your dogs are so funny. I love the crazy beach face/paws wild.

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  3. I bet those birders just mid ID'd the Red-shouldered. Nobody has seen a Kite in Oregon in the last 25 years.

    These photos, wither their erie, hazy backdrop, all remind me of the setting for a murder mystery novel. Good on ya for still getting out. A few bad trips and my fickle morale keeps me in bed the next weekend until something easy pops. up.

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  4. I find Bayocean overrated for birding, but great for dog-waling. I prefer to look for birds at the North Jetty.

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    1. I agree it's not often great for birds (besides obliging Wrentits), but I went mostly for the dogs.

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  5. I tell ya, you've got to go the fields around the Nehalem Sewage Ponds for kites.

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    1. I know I know! Didn't feel like driving up there yesterday but someday I will!

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    2. I will keep on pestering you until you go and get shots of them hovering and diving and perching and soaring. I feel it in your future!!! Resistance is futile!

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  6. If you think this is bad, wait til March. March is bullshit.

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  7. Some great shots of your boys Jen! Sorry you didnt see the Kite, but I know if its there you will find it! I love the Black turnstones!

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  8. Great beach shots! The pups look like they're having a blast!

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  9. Your dog looks just like the wolf that attacks Atreyu in the Neverending Story. Nightmares.

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