Birding Adventures
Rugged and largely undeveloped, the south coast of Oregon lures birders to a place where wildlife seldom encounters people. The highest density of offshore rocks and islands—habitat for 1.2 million nesting seabirds and protected as part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge—is seen along this stretch of the coast.

Every season is ideal for birding at the Southern Oregon Coast. Thousands of shorebirds migrating north during April and May stop in Oregon wetlands to rest and feed. Nesting seabirds, including Common Murres, Tufted Puffins, Pigeon Guillemots, and Brandt's, and Pelagic and Double-crested Cormorants arrive on coastal rocks and islands for breeding in the spring. Young seabirds fledge in July and August. Peregrine Falcons and Bald Eagles hunt the nesting seabirds and waterfowl that migrate along the coast. Fall migration is a great time to view spectacular flocks of shorebirds with numbers peaking in September as they fly south to wintering areas. Sea ducks and water birds are most abundant during the winter. Common species include Surf, White-winged and Black Scoters, Harlequin Ducks, Common and Pacific Loons, and Western, Horned, and Red-necked Grebes. Estuaries host wintering ducks, geese, and a variety of raptors.

Don’t miss the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve - SouthSloughEstuary.org - near Charleston. The 4,800 acre Reserve of tidal and freshwater wetlands and mixed conifer forest attract Egret, Band-tailed Pigeon, and Wrentit. Join a South Slough interpreter and venture into the Reserve in search of winged wildlife on the first Saturday of each month.

In early May and early September, Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge is a feeding and resting stopover for thousands of migrating shorebirds including commonly seen Black-bellied Plover, Semi-palmated Plover, Pacific Golden-Plover, Dunlin, Western and Least Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Long-billed Dowitcher, and Red-necked Phalarope. Bandon Marsh is also a hot spot that attracts rare shorebirds such as Ruff, Mongolian Plover, and Hudsonian Godwit.

Millicoma Marsh is a good place to see species rarely sighted in Oregon during the winter, such as the Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Marbled Godwit, and American Bittern.

Sightings at Pony Slough in North Bend have included Marbled Godwits, Pacific Golden-Plovers, and other birds including Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagle, Great Egret, and many species of waterfowl.

Take a drive out to Simpson Reef overlook where, with binoculars, you might spot Harlequin duck, Surf scoter, Rhinoceros auklet, and thousands of seals and sea lions.

Journey through the majestic old-growth trees of Humbug Mountain to hear a Hermit Warbler or scan the open ocean for Red-throated Loon and White-winged Scoter from Cape Sebastian to complete your birding experience.

To find out more about the birds in the area, visit: www.fws.gov/oregoncoast/wildlife.htm.

There is also a lot of valuable advice, maps and more at: www.oregoncoastbirding.com.

Cape Arago Audubon Society (Newsletter Sign Up)
Russ Namitz: namitzr@hotmail.com

Field Trip Information from Tim Rodenkirk
garbledmodwit@yahoo.com • (541) 269-4696