OBA Field Trips

FIELD TRIPS

OBA field trips are back! OBA is again offering trips led by experienced birders and expert local guides. To protect the health and safety of our members and the broader community, OBA adheres to all federal, state and local guidance regarding Covid-19. See our Field Trip Policies page for full details and our waiver. There is no charge to attend, but participants must be current members of OBA; you can join or renew here. Pre-registration is required and group size is limited to 10 participants plus leader(s). Weather, wildfire or other conditions may cause a trip to be canceled; if that happens, the trip leader will alert you. To suggest a trip we should run, or to volunteer as a leader, please contact us.

Cannon Beach / Haystack Rock and Ecola Creek Forest Reserve, Clatsop County

Trip Leader:  Diana Byrne

When: Sunday July 16, 2023, 7:00am–12:00pm

This trip will be based in Cannon Beach, Oregon. We will meet at the mid-town public parking lot located at S. Hemlock St. and Gower Ave. at 7:00 am. First we will bird at Haystack Rock, part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. We will walk about 1/2 mile from the parking lot and along the beach to reach Haystack Rock. Next we will drive and/or carpool about 1 mile to the Ecola Creek Forest Reserve, where we will walk up to 2 miles round-trip along a well-maintained gravel road, which is mostly level with short hills.

Expected birds: At Haystack Rock, the primary target species is the Tufted Puffin. We will be visiting during a minus tide, allowing relatively close viewing. There will be emphasis on slow birding and bird photography during this portion of the trip. We should have good photographic opportunities for the puffins and other seabirds, both perched and in flight. Other species found at Haystack Rock include Harlequin Duck, Black Oystercatcher, Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, our three species of Cormorants, and nesting Western Gulls.

Target birds at the Ecola Creek Forest Reserve include Wrentit, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Band-tailed Pigeon, Pacific Wren, Swainson’s Thrush, and Hermit Warbler.

Facilities: Public restrooms are located across the street from the south end of the parking lot, on the west side of Hemlock Street. Coffee will not be available at 7:00am in Cannon Beach, so please bring your own coffee, water, and snacks if desired. Dress for possible windy and chilly weather on the beach.

How to register: This trip is limited to 12 OBA members. If you are not a current member, you can join online here. There is no fee for this field trip, however registration is required. You can register for the trip at Cannon Beach Trip Registration.

 

We follow the American Birding Association’s Code of Ethics, developed and promoted by the ABA.

OBA Field Trip Policies