Field Trips

The Oregon Birding Association offers trips led by experienced birders and expert local guides. 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. Weather, wildfire or other conditions may cause a trip to be modified or 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.

Check out the Oregon Birding Association eBird account to see our field trip activity!

We depend on our wonderful members and volunteers to help lead field trips! Please reach out to fieldtrips@oregonbirding.org or obagroup@oregonbirding.org if you have ideas and would like to host a field trip.

Questions?
OBA members – please contact fieldtrips@oregonbirding.org or jillpunches@gmail.com

Upcoming Field Trips

Winter Birding in Umatilla County

Saturday and Sunday
November 14 and 15, 2026

Registration opens on Thursday, October 22, 2026 at 6:00 pm.
Registration link

Field Trip Leader: Paul Sullivan
Description: Based around Hermiston, we’ll visit McNary Dam, Cold Springs NWR,  Umatilla NWR, and Echo Meadows on the weekend of Nov 14-15, 2026.
Target Species: We would hope for Loons, Red-necked Grebes, Long-tailed Ducks, and other migrants coming from the arctic on their way to the coast.
Walking: slow, easy trails and lakebed, 1 – 2 miles
Scheduling basics:
—Rendezvous 7 AM Saturday,  Denny’s, 2265 S Hwy 395, Hermiston 541-567-7178
–Dinner on Saturday:  6:30 at Hale’s Tavern, 174 E Main, Hermiston
Departure: mid-afternoon Sunday from Umatilla NWR or John Day Dam
Lodging suggestions:
—Motel 6, 635 S Hwy 395, Hermiston 541-442-4518
–Travelodge by Wyndam, 1110 SE 4th St., Hermiston 541-371-5298
This trip is open to 12-14 members. A reminder to dress for the weather!

Coastal Rockpipers and their Allies in Lincoln County

Saturday, November 21, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Registration opens on Thursday, October 22, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
Registration Link (waitlist only)

Field Trip Leaders: Jenny Jones and Annie Tucker
General Information: We’ll rendezvous at 8 am at Devil’s Punch Bowl State Park. We will look for Rock Sandpipers and other species there, and then head on to Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint and then Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, ending around 4 pm (depending on weather, birds, and energy levels!). Note: at Yaquina Head you will need to purchase a day-use parking pass for $7 per vehicle or display a valid federal recreation pass.
Target Species: Rock Sandpiper, Surfbird, Black Turnstone, Black Oystercatcher, Wandering Tattler, Harlequin Duck, Black-legged Kittiwake, Pigeon Guillemot, Ancient Murrelet, Red Phalarope, Peregrine Falcon.
What to Bring: water, lunch, and snacks for the day, and binoculars! Prepare for possible rainy, windy, cold weather. If you have a scope, please bring it. Leaders will have scopes to share.
Walking: we will be going slow and easy along overlooks with short walks to and from parking areas and lots of standing.
Lodging suggestions: Lincoln City Best Western, Depoe Bay Travelodge by Wyndam.

Field Trip Reports

Caspian Terns in Clatsop County, by Owen Schmidt (First place May 2024)
Great Blue Heron in Washington County by JoAnn Radicchi (First place July 2024)
Golden-crowned Kinglet in Benton County by Allen Brooks (First place December 2024)

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

OBA Field Trip Policies