2023 Oregon Birding Weekend Field Trips
September 9-10 with a Pelagic on September 13
Below are details for all 16 of the Oregon Birding Weekend field trips. Sunday trips are listed after the Saturday trips. Trips take place across the state and vary in length and intensity, so there is hopefully something for everyone. Please note the field trip number of the trip you want to sign up for so that you choose the correct one on the registration page. You may sign up for one field trip on each day, or just on one of the days. If the field trip is full, you will be notified within 48 hours and placed on a waitlist.
These trips are offered to members of the Oregon Birding Association. If you are not a member and would like to take part, you may join us at https://oregonbirding.org/join/.
REGISTER HERE (Registration closes Thursday, August 31 at 9 pm)
Saturday, September 9
Trip number: SAT01
J2 on Sturgeon Lake in Sauvie Island (Multnomah County)–FULL–waitlist only
- Trip Leader Kyle Landstra
- Trip Date Saturday, September 9th
- Trip Start Time 6:45 AM
- Trip End Time 12:00 PM
- Maximum # of participants 10
- Description The main focus will be shorebirds, but the roundtrip walk is good birding as well offering chances at migrating passerines. Sturgeon Lake is an excellent spot for migrating shorebirds in the fall and one of the best locations in Multnomah County. There will be expected shorebird species no doubt…as long as the tides cooperate. Past fall rarities from this viewpoint include Marbled Godwit, Ruff, Whimbrel, Stilt Sandpiper, American Avocet, and even non-shorebirds such as Common Tern, Parasitic Jaeger, and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. We will be looking for anything unexpected, although nothing is guaranteed!
- Walking and trail conditions (incline, trail surface, etc.) Most of the walk is a dirt two-track with one dike to cross over. After a mile or more of this, a short walk from the two-track gets us to the viewpoint and includes walking through very tall and wet grass. This path can get dicey with unexpected logs hiding beneath the tall grass. Pants and mud boots or waterproof shoes strongly recommended. Once at the viewpoint we will be standing in one spot before walking back when things slow down. There is no seating available at the viewpoint. Mosquitoes can be bad this time of year, so repellent is recommended.
- Distance to be traveled 3 miles round trip
- Will toilets and drinking water be available? No
- Additional important information (e.g. parking passes, transportation info, scopes, etc.) Sauvie Island requires parking permits to park here. It is recommended to get a parking permit before the trip date as the stores that sell them will not be open by the time our trip will begin.
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Trip number: SAT02
High Cascades Timothy Lake for LGBTQNBIA+ birders (Clackamas County)
- Trip Leaders Rae Snyder and Lorin Wilkerson
- Trip Date Saturday, September 9th
- Trip Start Time 7:00 AM
- Trip End Time 12:30 PM
- Maximum # of participants 10
- Description This trip is for OBA members who identify as LGBTQNBIA+. While the trip leaders are Portland-based, we would love to see folx from Central Oregon and other parts of the state as well. The drive is approximately 1 hr 40 minutes from downtown Portland, about 2 hours from Bend and a little over 3 hours from Eugene.
We will bird various spots around Timothy Lake. Expected Birds: You never know what strange birds might show up in the High Cascades during early fall migration, but waterfowl will be our primary targets. Barrow’s Goldeneye, Common Loons, Horned and Western Grebes, Hooded and Common Mergansers, Ring-necked Ducks and more are all to be found here in early September, as well as mountain songbirds like Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin and Canada Jay. Red-necked Phalarope, Eared Grebe and American Pipit are possible, as are the last of the Vaux Swifts and Common Nighthawks before they head south for the winter. - Walking and trail conditions (incline, trail surface, etc.)Distance to be traveled Throughout the course of the day, you can expect to walk approximately 4 miles on mostly level asphalt and well-maintained packed-earth trails. Depending on the water level, there may be some walking on rocky beaches.
- Will toilets and drinking water be available? There are numerous public restrooms available at the day-use areas we will be visiting.
- Additional important information (e.g. parking passes, transportation info, scopes, etc.)
- Carpooling is strongly encouraged, not only to cut down on our carbon footprint, but also because parking can be limited on a Saturday, and there is a $10 day use fee at Timothy Lake for those not holding a valid Northwest Forest Pass or Federal Interagency Pass.
- Trip leaders will have scopes, but you are encouraged to bring your own if you wish. Please bring your own water and food. Consider sun/weather and bug protection.
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Trip number: SAT03
CZ Trail and Dalton Lake (Columbia County)
- Trip Leader Tom Myers
- Trip Date Saturday, September 9th
- Trip Start Time 7:00 AM
- Trip End Time 1:00 PM
- Maximum # of participants 10
- Description Two 2-mile bird walks with a lunch stop on the Columbia River.
We’ll meet at the Trtek Trailhead of the Crown Zellerbach Trail in Scappoose (which has a toilet) to walk the flat, paved trail about 1.2 miles to Chapman Landing, then back. We’ll pass through pasture and marsh looking for waterfowl, raptors and passerines.
From the CZ, we’ll caravan to downtown St. Helens to eat lunch at Columbia View Park.
After lunch, we’ll travel to the Dalton Lake Nature Preserve between St. Helens and Columbia City. We’ll walk about 1 mile down to a spit of land between the lake and the Columbia River, then back to the parking area. - Walking and trail conditions (incline, trail surface, etc.) The path is partially unpaved, with two steep sections. We’ll look for any waterfowl on the lake, songbirds along the path, and more river birds on the Columbia. ” CZ is flat and paved, the path at Dalton is partially paved, partially gravel with two short, steeper sections
- Distance to be traveled ~4 miles
- Will toilets and drinking water be available? Yes toilets, no water
- Additional important information (e.g. parking passes, transportation info, scopes, etc.) Bathroom at CZ, not at Dalton.
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Trip number: SAT04
Sitka Sedge Natural Area (Tillamook County)
- Trip Leaders Michael Krall, Kathy Krall
- Trip Date Saturday, September 9th
- Trip Start Time 7:30 AM
- Trip End Time 12:00 PM
- Maximum # of participants 10
- Description Enjoy both coastal forest and seashore habitat. Slow pace, photography friendly. All levels of birder welcome. Possible birds include shorebirds (plovers, sandpipers, sanderlings, whimbrels etc.), gulls, sea ducks and loons, and forest birds ( chickadees, bushtits, nuthatches, woodpeckers, waxwings, sparrows).
- Walking and trail conditions (incline, trail surface, etc.) Walk along dike, forest trail, beach. No elevation gain.
- Distance to be traveled Total walking could be 3-6 miles, at a birding pace.
- Will toilets and drinking water be available?
- Additional important information (e.g. parking passes, transportation info, scopes, etc.) The coast is always cooler than the valley and breeze/wind can make it cool or cold. Bring layers and rain protection. Bring water and a snack.
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Trip number: SAT05
Oaks Bottom in Portland (Multnomah County)
- Trip Leader Gina Easley
- Trip Date Saturday, September 9th
- Trip Start Time 8:00 AM
- Trip End Time 11:30 AM
- Maximum # of participants 8
- Description This trip will be on the casual side. I am merely the “bird walk facilitator” and believe these outings are most fulfilling when we give and take knowledge freely. Example – if you are a flycatcher expert please speak up!
Target audience: general birder.
Focus/ highlights: I’d like to focus on waterfowl & other water birds but we will see all there is to see (and hear!). - Walking and trail conditions (incline, trail surface, etc.) Mostly flat single track packed earth trails. Trip begins and ends with a moderately steep .2 mile hike down from the parking lot.
- Distance to be traveled 3 miles
- Will toilets and drinking water be available? No
- Additional important information (e.g. parking passes, transportation info, scopes, etc.) There will be a scope for the group to use. No parking pass needed. Bring your binoculars, walking shoes, water bottle/snack, sun protection and inquisitive mind.
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Trip number: SAT06
Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge (Marion County)
- Trip Leaders Paul Evans and Roxanne Evans
- Trip Date Saturday, September 9th
- Trip Start Time 8:00 AM
- Trip End Time 11:00 AM
- Maximum # of participants 10
- Description Ankeny NWR is an extraordinarily rich birding destination with over 200 species documented in the past. Meet at Ankeny Hill Nature Center. We will do overview there then drive short distances to Eagle Marsh, Pintail Marsh, and Rail Trail areas. Beginners through experienced birders welcome. There are usually many ducks and shore birds as well as riparian species (residents and migrants) in fall migration.
- Walking and trail conditions (incline, trail surface, etc.) Basically flat on gravel or mown trails or boardwalks. Some trails not wheelchair friendly.
- Distance to be traveled About 2.5 to 3.2 miles.
- Will toilets and drinking water be available? Yes toilets, no water
- Additional important information (e.g. parking passes, transportation info, scopes, etc.) Park at Nature Center and we may be able to car pool to refuge sites. Bring binoculars, water, hat/sunscreen. If you have a scope, bring it for some shorebird observations. We will share too.
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Trip number: SAT07
Lake Euwana Area (Klamath County)
- Trip Leader Elijah Hayes
- Trip Date Saturday, September 9th
- Trip Start Time 8:00 AM
- Trip End Time 1:00 PM
- Maximum # of participants 10
- Description This trip will showcase some of the more species-rich birding locations in Klamath County, all centered around the scenic Lake Ewauna. We will travel between Veteran’s Park, the Wingwatchers Trail, and the Link River trail with a focus on seeing a large number of species.
This trip is open to anyone.
We will have the opportunity to see shorebirds including Pectoral, Semipalmated, Baird’s, Least, and Western Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, Avocets, and Stilts as well as a wide variety of waterbirds and migrant passerines.
Walking and trail conditions (incline, trail surface, etc.) Mostly gravel trails that are flat, possibly some short inclines. - Distance to be traveled About 3 to 4 miles.
- Will toilets and drinking water be available? Yes toilets, no water.
- Additional important information (e.g. parking passes, transportation info, scopes, etc.) We will meet at a central location and walk between sites; all sites are located just a quick walk from each other. No parking pass is required. Bring a scope if you have one as we will use it to view waterbirds on the lake as well as shorebirds on the mudflats. I will have one scope available that I can share, but the more we have the better!
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Trip number: SAT08
Bonney Butte Hawk Watch (Clackamas County)
- Trip Leaders Tom Jordan, Barb Bresson
- Trip Date Saturday, September 9th
- Trip Start Time 9:00 AM
- Trip End Time 4:00 PM
- Maximum # of participants 25
- Description Bonnie Butte, on the east flank of Mt. Hood, is well-known as Oregon’s premiere hawkwatching location. Hawkwatch International staff will busily be tallying migrating raptors overhead, while trip leaders Barb and Tom, both of whom have many years of of experience at this site, will help visitors spot and identify migrating raptors, as well as the songbirds like Clark’s Nutcracker and Canada Jay that are common visitors to the site. There may also be the opportunity to see raptors banded and released. This trip will function as a “Big Sit,” and is weather-dependent. The trip will be canceled in the event of inclement weather.
- Walking and trail conditions (incline, trail surface, etc.) The hike from the parking area to the hawkwatch is mostly a wide gravel road. The hike from the bottom is a steep single track trail.
- Distance to be traveled 1/4 mile hike from parking area to hawkwatch area on top of butte
- Will toilets and drinking water be available? Yes toilets, no water
- Additional important information (e.g. parking passes, transportation info, scopes, etc.) Limited parking at the top of the access road for up to ten vehicles, with a 1/4 mile uphill hike to count site. Also a longer optional hike in.
The site is in the Badger Creek Wilderness area, phone service is spotty on the access road but is good on top of the Butte, elevation 5,500 ft., with awesome views of the Cascades. The last 4 miles of the drive up, is a very rough, unimproved mountain road, and is a 30 minute drive from FS48. It requires a 4 wheel drive high-clearance vehicle. Carpool if possible, parking at the site entrance is limited to ten vehicles, with overflow in Bonney Meadows campground. There is also a moderate to difficult, 2 mile, 2 hr., hike to the site. It starts on Forest Service road 4890. Barb will lead this if participants would like to join.
Sunday, September 10
Trip number: SUN01
Lakes of Wasco County–FULL–waitlist only
- Trip Leaders Brodie Cass Talbott and Erik Bergman
- Trip Date Sunday, September 10th
- Trip Start Time 6:30 AM
- Trip End Time 6:00 PM
- Maximum # of participants 10
- Description September is a great time to visit mountain lakes looking for migrant birds. In this self-driving trip, we’ll visit Clear Lake and Frog Lake in the high Cascades, looking for shorebirds and lingering warblers in lush hemlock and fir habitat, before heading down to Rock Creek Reservoir and Pine Hollow Reservoir in the foothills of Wasco County where the dry Ponderosa habitat could hold bluebirds, all three nuthatches, and all three red finches, along with interesting gulls or terns. We’ll break up the drive back to Portland with a visit to the low-elevation Taylor Lake in The Dalles, which has held a number of locally rare shorebirds in recent years, and has been the only spot in the county where Black-crowned Night-herons have been seen repeatedly.
Please come prepared with a full tank of gas, a lunch and ample water, and sunscreen. There are few amenities along the way.
Birders of all experience levels are welcome. - Walking and trail conditions (incline, trail surface, etc.) We will have short walks of less than a half mile at each stop. Some walks will be on uneven ground including rocky shorelines. Expect Partial to full sun along the route. Could be brisk in the morning.
- Distance to be walked 2-3 miles.
- Will toilets and drinking water be available? Toilets available at most stops. Please bring ample drinking water.
- Additional important information (e.g. parking passes, transportation info, scopes, etc.) We will hope to carpool from our meetup location in NE Portland, which is accessible by mass transit, and has a parking lot to leave cars. It will be a long day, but participants are welcome to only join for the morning. Participants outside of the Portland area are welcome to join us Clear Lake.
NW Forest passes will likely be required. Scopes will be helpful, so bring one if you have one – both guides will bring scopes to share.
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Trip number: SUN02
Fernhill Wetlands (Washington County)
- Trip Leaders Robert Lockett, Ed McVicker
- Trip Date Sunday, September 10th
- Trip Start Time 7:30 AM
- Trip End Time 11:30 AM
- Maximum # of participants 8
- Description We’ll take a leisurely walk around a portion of Fernhill Wetlands, stopping often to look and listen to birds. We will have 2 spotting scopes available. We expect to see shorebirds, waterfowl, passerines, and a few raptors.
- Walking and trail conditions (incline, trail surface, etc.) Almost entirely flat. Some pavement, but mostly gravel.
- Distance to be walked About 2 miles maximum.
- Will toilets and drinking water be available? Yes toilets, no water
- Additional important information (e.g. parking passes, transportation info, scopes, etc.) No parking permit required. Two scopes will be available for the group; participants are invited to bring their own if available.
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Trip number: SUN03
Keizer Rapids Park (Marion County)
- Trip Leader Mike Unger
- Trip Date Sunday, September 10th
- Trip Start Time 8:00 AM
- Trip End Time 11:00 AM
- Maximum # of participants 10
- Description Keizer Rapids Park, in Keizer, is a local gem for birding enthusiasts. The park has a variety of habitats that attracts a wide variety of birds including sparrows, finches, and towhees, but many other birds can be found here including waterfowl, raptors, woodpeckers, and creepers. Kingfishers and an occasional bald eagle can be seen near the river. In the past we have observed 32 to 40 species during the walk. All skill levels of birders welcome!
- Walking and trail conditions (incline, trail surface, etc.) We will be walking on most flat paved and graveled paths with some unevenness.
- Distance to be walked 2.5 miles
- Will toilets and drinking water be available? Yes toilets, no water
- Additional important information (e.g. parking passes, transportation info, scopes, etc.) Bring your binoculars but no scopes or parking passes are needed.
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Trip number: SUN04
Whitaker Ponds in NE Portland (Multnomah County)
- Trip Leader Linda Swanson
- Trip Date Sunday, September 10th
- Trip Start Time 8:00 AM
- Trip End Time 10:00 AM
- Maximum # of participants 10
- Description Open to all level of birders, to see, hear, find, and discover the numerous bird species at this habitat rich park with its two ponds, open grassland, and forest sections located along the Columbia Slough. From waterbirds to woodland species, expect to see at least thirty species of birds with the possibility of migrating species.
- Walking and trail conditions (incline, trail surface, etc.) Easy walking on flat natural trails, with two optional docks, one with steps, other with ramp.
- Distance to be walked 1.3 miles
- Will toilets and drinking water be available? Yes toilets, no water
- Additional important information (e.g. parking passes, transportation info, scopes, etc.) Parking lot ample, but carpooling helpful. Bring binoculars if possible, and scopes appreciated.
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Trip number: SUN05
Sitka Sedge Natural Area (Tillamook County)
- Trip Leaders Sarah Swanson and Max Smith
- Trip Date Sunday, September 10th
- Trip Start Time 8:30 AM
- Trip End Time 11:30 AM
- Maximum # of participants 10
- Description This walk will be led by Sarah Swanson, author of “”Best Little Book of Bird: the Oregon Coast.” We’ll enjoy shorebirds and whatever other cool things we come across on this exploration of a coastal birding hotspot. Both tidal Sand Lake and the nearby ocean beach host migratory shorebirds. We’ll also check the forests for migrating songbirds. Birders of all levels of experience are welcome.
- Walking and trail conditions (incline, trail surface, etc.) A combination of gravel trail, dirt trail, and sand.
- Distance to be walked About three miles total.
- Will toilets and drinking water be available? Yes.
- Additional important information (e.g. parking passes, transportation info, scopes, etc.) Parking is free. I will likely bring a scope, but participants are also welcome to.
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Trip number: SUN06
Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge (Washington County)
- Trip Leaders Nagi Aboulenein and Taghrid Elmeligui
- Trip Date Sunday, September 10th
- Trip Start Time 8:00 AM
- Trip End Time 12:00 PM
- Maximum # of participants 10
- Description Tualatin River NWR is a great birding destination located near Sherwood, OR. The refuge has a nice mix of habitats, including riparian, oak savannah, wetlands and forest. 215 species have been observed there.
We will walk the river trail as well as the wetlands trail, both of which are flat, except for one section in the forested area that has some elevation gain.
In addition to seeing what birds we can find, I will also talk about bird photography, give some tips and hints for improving your bird photos, and we will take opportunities for taking some photos where they present themselves. - Walking and trail conditions (incline, trail surface, etc.) Mostly flat except for one side trail. Trails are mostly compacted gravel – depending on weather, trails may be muddy.
- Distance to be walked 3-5 miles, depending on trail conditions and weather.
- Will toilets and drinking water be available? Yes.
- Additional important information (e.g. parking passes, transportation info, scopes, etc.) Large parking lot, but it can fill up quickly on weekends with nice weather. Carpooling is recommended.
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Trip number: SUN07
Bonney Butte Hawk Watch (Clackamas County)
- Trip Leaders Tom Jordan, Barb Bresson
- Trip Date Sunday, September 9th
- Trip Start Time 9:00 AM
- Trip End Time 4:00 PM
- Maximum # of participants 25
- Description Bonnie Butte, on the east flank of Mt. Hood, is well-known as Oregon’s premiere hawkwatching location. Hawkwatch International staff will busily be tallying migrating raptors overhead, while trip leaders Barb and Tom, both of whom have many years of of experience at this site, will help visitors spot and identify migrating raptors, as well as the songbirds like Clark’s Nutcracker and Canada Jay that are common visitors to the site. There may also be the opportunity to see raptors banded and released. This trip will function as a “Big Sit,” and is weather-dependent. The trip will be canceled in the event of inclement weather.
- Walking and trail conditions (incline, trail surface, etc.) The hike from the parking area to the hawkwatch is mostly a wide gravel road. The hike from the bottom is a steep single track trail.
- Distance to be traveled 1/4 mile hike from parking area to hawkwatch area on top of butte
- Will toilets and drinking water be available? Yes toilets, no water
- Additional important information (e.g. parking passes, transportation info, scopes, etc.) Limited parking at the top of the access road for up to ten vehicles, with a 1/4 mile uphill hike to count site. Also a longer optional hike in.
The site is in the Badger Creek Wilderness area, phone service is spotty on the access road but is good on top of the Butte, elevation 5,500 ft., with awesome views of the Cascades. The last 4 miles of the drive up, is a very rough, unimproved mountain road, and is a 30 minute drive from FS48. It requires a 4 wheel drive high-clearance vehicle. Carpool if possible, parking at the site entrance is limited to ten vehicles, with overflow in Bonney Meadows campground. There is also a moderate to difficult, 2 mile, 2 hr., hike to the site. It starts on Forest Service road 4890. Barb will lead this if participants would like to join.
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Trip number: SUN08
Yaquina Estuary Trail in Newport (Mark Hatfield Science Center, Lincoln County)
- Trip Leaders Jenny Jones, Patty Newland
- Trip Date Sunday, September 10th
- Trip Start Time 10:00 AM
- Trip End Time 1:00 PM
- Maximum # of participants 10
- Description Join us for a slow-paced stroll along the Yaquina Estuary to see what’s flown in. We hope to see marbled godwit, whimbrel, semipalmated plover, short-billed dowitcher, red-necked phalarope, assorted peeps, seabirds, loons, terns, and gulls. Bring binoculars and a camera if you use one. We will have two scopes. Please feel free to bring a scope if you have one.
- Walking and trail conditions (incline, trail surface, etc.) The estuary trail is flat and mostly paved, part of the trail is a wooden boardwalk.
- Distance to be walked 2 miles
- Will toilets and drinking water be available? Yes. Restrooms and water are available at the Hatfield Visitor Center (opens at 10am).
- Additional important information (e.g. parking passes, transportation info, scopes, etc.) Always dress for the weather. We’ll be there mid-day, so a hat and sunscreen is recommended along with drinking water.
Wednesday, September 13
Trip number: WED01
Bandon Pelagic (Coos County) $175/person
- Trip Leader Bob Archer
- Trip Date Wednesday, September 13th
- Trip Start Time 6:00 AM
- Trip End Time 3:00 PM
- Maximum # of participants 23
- Description In conjunction with the Oregon Birding Weekend, we will have a pelagic birding trip out of Bandon, Oregon on Wednesday September 13. The timing should be good for Sooty, Pink, and Buller’s Shearwater. Flesh-footed Shearwater are possible as well as Short-tailed. Black-footed Albatross should be offshore and a few Laysan Albatross are possible. Rarer albatross like Short-tailed are also possible. Great finds would include Scripp’s Murrelets and perhaps a few odd Storm-Petrels. Jaegers, gulls, fulmars, and auklets are also on the expected list. Of course, the main attraction is the hope of seeing something mega rare.
Bandon is a small port on the south coast. Here the continental shelf is more narrow making true deep water more accessible. Upwelling along the shelf can attract birds. As with any pelagic trip, the weather must be right, and trips out of the smaller inlet at Bandon are more susceptible to cancellation than a place like Newport. The weather can change quickly on the ocean, so (as with any pelagic trip) we may not know until a few days before trip day if we can go, or the trip could be cancelled the morning of. If the trip is cancelled the day of, local birder Tim Rodenkirk will help us search the Bandon area for birds migrating along the coast, be they passerines or shorebirds.
If the trip is cancelled, the $175 fee will be refunded. There will be no refunds if you cancel, unless we can fill your spot. - Will toilets and drinking water be available? Yes (likely) for toilet. bring your own food and water.
- Additional important information Names of additional trip guides, vessels, etc. will be provided when finalized. Dress for the weather. Don’t bring a scope. Information about how to be comfortable on a pelagic will be shared with participants.
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