The LC lately

Let's start with the LC sewage ponds, because I have this photo from January that I feel needs to be shared:


This is what happens if you dive too deep in the sewage ponds.  Or at least that's what I assume happened.  The scaup here are the only ducks that seem...coated.


I returned to the sewage ponds more recently and the scaup were less gross, but still a little gross.  Other divers (Ring-neckeds, Buffleheads, etc) don't seem to have this issue but maybe they don't go as deep?

Chilly sewage pond morning

On my recent visit the birds were out in force, including Marsh Wrens who were suddenly visible.


 The sun brought out the bugs which brought out the warblers, a phoebe and a Hermit Thrush.

Yellow-rump

Townsend's Warbler

Black Phoebe

Hermit Thrush

I am getting stoked for spring at these sewage ponds since there's not much in eBird for this spot but the potential is high for shorebirds and weird migrants. 

The yard birding in the LC has been consistently pleasant.  In January the Pac-slope/Western Flycatcher was still around though we didn't see it this last visit.


Also in January a new yard bird showed up in a junco flock:


 White-throated Sparrow!  It showed up again last weekend and allowed itself to be crushed.


The yard has been bustling with the common birds like Chestnut-backed and Black-capped Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Dark-eyed Juncos, Song and Fox Sparrows, and Pine Siskins.  We've also had some less common birds coming to the feeders like a Varied Thrush, a female Hairy Woodpecker and a male Downy. 

Weirdly grabbing a pine cone

Last weekend we drove down to Depoe Bay to check for rockpipers along the seawall.  The tide might have been too high and we only found a Black Oystercatcher so we headed back north to Boiler Bay.  Here we found Jacob's lifer Ancient Murrelets hanging out ridiculously close to shore.


Bubbly Harlequin Duck

After Boiler Bay we decided to make one more try for rockpipers at Pirate Cove.  We didn't find any but some close cormorants gave me some good practice.

Four Brandt's Cormorants (one getting ready for breeding) and a single Pelagic

Harbor seals love Pirate Cove too.


Our favorite breakfast spot, the Wildflower Grill, overlooks a nice pond that often has ducks, herons or river otters.  Back in January as we were finishing up Jacob saw a Barred Owl fly in. 


On that day we wanted to check out a couple new spots at Siletz Bay NWR, just outside our 5MR.  First was Milport Slough Road which is a gravel road that leads to private property, but offers nice views of the wetlands along the way.  Nothing amazing on this day but I bet spring will be good.

The next spot, Alder Island, was a bit birdier. 


The trail does a loop out to the tip of a peninsula with views of the Siletz River along the way.

Red-necked Grebe


 Common Mergansers
 
Lastly, we finally played Wingspan!  It was pretty fun once we got it figured out. 


Lincoln City continues to keep us entertained with so many places to explore (like our future 5MR Les Schwab).  Good times!!!


Comments

  1. OH MY GOD THOSE SCAUP. I am trying so hard to come up with a shit/scaup pun but it isn't happening.

    How did Wingspan go? Raven in the meadow is a solid strategy, although saying it out loud sounds like code for something illegal.

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    1. Hahaha the scaup were so gnarly. Wingspan was fun though since it was our first time playing there was a lot of learning as we went. My 13-year-old stepson liked it a lot so looks like we have a new game in the rotation.

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  2. Awesome post Jen...your new radius has GLAM! Sitting at a Grill and a Barred Owl out the window? WOW...A birdy board game...who knew!!

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  3. Pretty sweet sweet suite of sweet species. Poopducks are gross. I too recently got a new yard bird, but I'm not very happy about it...Scaly-breasted Munia.

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    1. Oh dear, I didn't realize they were in your neck of the woods. Do they come to feeders?

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    2. They do, but so far they are staying on the other side of the fence.

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  4. Thanks for sharing all the birds!

    Over Christmas I also finally got around to playing Wingspan. There is kinda a lot going on to get your head around at first but I think I've got the hang of it more or less now... I'm really liking it and enjoying seeing all the nice North American birds! Oceania is the next expansion ;)

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