Birding On The Lower Columbia
by Mike Patterson
The lower Columbia River has long been a favorite destination for birders and nature watchers. 356 species of birds have been recorded in Clatsop County and many of these are unique enough to attract birdwatchers from around the world. Every season attracts its own assemblage of birds making for an attractive year-round destination for observing birds.
The lower Columbia has the second highest density of wintering and breeding eagles in the state of Oregon and in late January and early February they gather around the flooded fields and sloughs of Brownsmead to take advantage of ducks, geese, and nutria. Other regularly occurring hawk species include White-tailed Kite, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawk, Peregrine Falcon and even an occasional Gyrfalcon.
By March, spring migrants begin to arrive. Of these is one of the smallest birds in North America, the Rufous Hummingbird, which can on some days be seen in remarkable numbers in patches of blooming Salmonberries. The linear park that runs west from Warrenton all the way to Hammond is one of the more accessible locations to watch the hummingbird migration. The walking trail and dike along the Columbia River at Alder Creek also afford views of estuarine wetland and tide flats and the many species of waterfowl that use the estuary in early spring.
April and May are the time of peak migrations for species moving from wintering grounds to breeding grounds. This is the time when the Tufted Puffins return to Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach. There are believed to be about 150 nesting pair that build burrows in the grassy areas on the lee side of the rock. Northbound shorebird numbers reach their peak by the first week of May and thousands can be seen along the beaches and at the Necanicum Estuary in Seaside. The large expanse of exposed tidal flat is very attractive to Semipalmated Plovers, curlews and sandpipers looking for a meal of worms or crustaceans.
By June, most species have settled down to the business of reproduction. At Ecola State Park 50,000 Common Murres can be seen tightly packed on the rocks off Chapman and Ecola Points in Ecola State Park along with nesting Brandt’s and Pelagic Cormorants. Further inland, a hike up the trail to the top of Saddle Mountain will almost certainly include the steady booming call from Blue Grouse, the buzz of Varied Thrush and the babbling of Hermit Warblers.
Fort Stevens State Park is the place to be in July and August when the shorebirds begin their trip back south and nearshore seabirds arrive to feast on runs of anchovy and herring. Sooty Shearwaters congregate in the hundreds of thousands in the waters just off the South Jetty of the Columbia River. About 5000 Brown Pelicans summer here each year. Shorebirds gather to feed at high tide roosts at parking lot “C” and along beaches.
The landbird migration takes off in September and October as warblers, thrushes and sparrows move south. On clear mornings the fallout of nocturnal migrations can be seen from the top of Coxcomb Hill in Astoria. On a good day hundreds of Hermit, Townsend and Black-throated Gray Warblers fill the trees along the road up to the Astoria Column. The migration can also be watched along the jetty trail at the Fort Stevens Historical Area and the other bike paths in Fort Stevens.
The rains of November and December bring geese and ducks. Thousands congregate on Youngs Bay and can be seen while driving across the causeway between Astoria and Warrenton. Other good spots for waterfowl include the mouth of the Lewis and Clark River and along Hwy 202 just South of Astoria. Several hundred Trumpeter Swans gather along the estuarine wetlands from Tongue Point to Brownsmead.
A complete list of species seen in Clatsop County as well as directions and descriptions of places in Clatsop County to go bird watching can be found at http://birdnotes.net.
To enjoy bird watching from the Columbia River itself, visit our Columbia River Tours page.