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Birding in Seaside has it all. Open space, the ocean, an estuary draining two rivers, fresh and saltwater ponds, wetlands, grassy dunes and stands of spruce and alder provide rich and varied habitats for the more than 300 varieties of birds that make Seaside a year-round or seasonal home. Spring and autumn also offer opportunities for sightings of unusual visitors who travel the Pacific Flyway migratory route.
When you go out birding, be sure to take a look at your surroundings. Are you out on the beach? At a river mouth? In the forest? Is the bird in the trees, or on a cliff face? Out in the water or on land? Paying close attention to the habitat where you’re finding birds will help to narrow down the kind of bird you’re seeing. For example, if you spot a medium to large bird with a white belly and dark back/wings that is floating around in the ocean it’s probably a Western Greebe and not an Osprey.
Also, remember to consider not just where you are, but when you are – seasonally and time of day. Some birds only come to our area during certain times of the year, to nest or feed or just to stop over briefly on their way somewhere else.
To get started bird watching, there is one key piece of equipment: binoculars. If you’re planning on buying a pair, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. Higher magnification will give more detailed images, but also makes a smaller field of view and more shaking. According to the Cornell Ornithology Lab, binoculars with 7-10x magnification are optimal for bird watching. Also, not all binoculars are built alike – there is a wide variety range in price, durability, image quality, etc. available. If possible, try several different models to see what feels the most comfortable. Aside from binoculars, another helpful piece of equipment is a birding log. A spiral notepad works well but if you’re concerned about your notes being damaged by the wet weather on the Oregon Coast, consider investing in a Rite in the Rain notebook.
It takes some time, but carefully observing a bird hopping, flying, singing, and otherwise going about its day can go a long way in identifying a bird – and can be quite entertaining, too. Focusing on behavior will allow you to identify a bird even when it’s far away or in hiding out in the shadows.
Look at behaviors that stand out – is the bird solitary or in a flock? Does it run along the ground or flit from tree to tree? How does it feed? A Brown Creeper can look a lot like a Fox Sparrow from a distance, but only the Brown Creeper will be clinging to the side of a tree and picking out insects.
When you spot a bird, look at its overall size – would you call it small, medium or large? Also examine the bird in parts – head, bill, tail, wings, body. Often you can identify a bird by a feature that really stands out, such as the large bill and tufts of a Tufted Puffin, or the small body size of a Northern Pygmy Owl.
If you want some practice before you go birding, see if you can tell the difference between a crow and a raven – if you can tell those birds apart, then you’re all set.
Often the most striking characteristic, color can be an important identifier on a bird (like the male red-winged blackbird). Look for a color pattern on the wings, breast, head, and tail. Some birds have stripes or mottling that can also be used to identify their species. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology suggests looking at overall color pattern, rather than trying to match a bird to a picture in your field guide. Also, keep in mind that males and females can look very different from one another. If you’re having trouble figuring out the difference between eyelines and eyebrow stripes, wingbars and wing patches, or other technical terms, click here for the Cornell Ornithology Lab’s bird anatomy and markings diagrams.
Located next to the Sunset Recreaton Center, Broadway Park is adjacent to Neawanna Creek and is a good place to find a variety of birds, such as Canada Goose, Mallard, Ring-necked Duck, American Coot, Black-capped Chickadee, Red Winged Blackbird, Purple Martin, Common Yellowthroat, and several species of sparrow. Broadway Park is also the location of Seaside’s Osprey nest camera. Directions – from Hwy 101 (Roosevelt Drive), turn on Broadway Street heading east. The park is on the left side of the street after the Sunset Recreation Center and pool buildings.
1300 Broadway St, Seaside, OR 97138, USA
The secluded south end of Clatsop Beach (north of Seaside and south of Fort Stevens) is a great place look for several bird species in the water and on land. With expansive views of Cape Disappointment and Tillamook Head, Clatsop Beach is home to birds such as Brown Pelican, Western Gull, Common Murre, Surf Scoter, Pigeon Guillemot, Brandt’s and Pelagic Cormorant, Chestnut-backed Chickadee and Cedar Waxwing. Directions – from Hwy 101 in Gearhart, turn on Pacific Way heading west. Turn right onto N Marion Avenue, then left on 10th Street. The road will end at the beach.
412 Pacific Terraces, Gearhart, OR 97138, USA
The Tillamook Head Trail winds through the Elmer Feldenheimer Forest Reserve on the Seaside side of the mountain and then into Ecola State Park. You don’t have to hike the entire trail, though, to see birds such as Wilson’s and Hermit Warbler, Varied Thrush, Spotted Towhee, Brown Creeper, Swainson’s Thrush, and Northern Saw-whet Owl. Directions – from Hwy 101 (Roosevelt Drive), turn on Avenue U heading west. Turn left at S Edgewood Street and follow through the residential area until the road ends, approximately 1.5 miles. Parking is available in a small gravel lot at the trailhead.
Elmer Feldenheimer State Natural Area, Sunset Boulevard, Seaside, OR, USA
45°58’25.03″N, 123°57’14.77″W
This park hosts a variety of landscapes to explore. On hiking trails, look for American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Canvasback, Greater Scaup, Caspian Tern, and Northern Harrier. The viewing platform at the jetty is a great place to find Sooty Shearwater and Brown Pelican, and all across the park you might find Wrentit, Western Tanager, Orange-crowned Warbler, and Olive-sided Flycatch. If you visit the beach, be sure to watch for Snowy Plover nest sites, which are marked off by signs. These birds are returning to Fort Stevens because of habitat restoration work done by the park, so please do not disturb nesting areas.
Directions – take Hwy 101 north from Seaside towards Warrenton. After approximately 10 miles, turn left onto OR-104 N (look for brown sign for Fort Stevens State Park). Turn left onto Columbia Beach Road. Turn left onto Peter Iredale Road, approximately 4 miles.
Fort Stevens State Park, Peter Iredale Rd, Hammond, OR, USA
(503) 861-3170 ext 21
oregonstateparks.org
Part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Haystack Rock is home to many species of shorebird. During the summer, look for Tufted Puffin, Western Gull, Pelagic Cormorant, Pigeon Guillemot, Black Oystercatcher, Harlequin Duck, Brown Pelican, and Peregrine Falcon. In the winter you may spot Greater Scaup and Surf Scoter. Directions – take Hwy 101 south from Seaside to Cannon Beach, approximately 8 miles. Take exit for Sunset Boulevard. For parking, turn right on Hemlock Street. Parking lot will be at Coolidge Avenue, on the right.
Haystack Rock, U.S. 101, Cannon Beach, OR, USA
45°53’5.14″N, 123°57’52.26″W
Neawanna Creek is a tidal-influenced freshwater creek that empties into the Necanicum River near the Necanicum Estuary. Ever changing with the tide, this creek is home to numerous species of birds including Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Red Winged Blackbird, American Coot, Bufflehead, Goldeneye, and Greater Yellowlegs. Directions – from Hwy 101 (Roosevelt Drive), turn on 12th Avenue heading east. The best viewing location is from the bridge on 12th Avenue.
Neawanna Creek, Oregon, USA
46°0’5.68″N, 123°54’54.42″W
The Necanicum Estuary, where the Necanicum River meets the Pacific Ocean, is one of the best sites on the north coast to find migratory shorebirds. During April and September, look for Western Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Semipalmated Plover, Dunlin and Long-Billed Curlew. During autumn you might see Lapland Longspur and Snow Bunting on the sand dunes. Directions – from Hwy 101 (Roosevelt Drive), turn on 12th Avenue heading west. Turn right on N Holladay Drive. Parking is available on the left side of the street, across from Seaside High School.
Necanicum Estuary Natural History Park, Broadway St, Seaside, OR, USA
46°0’24.61″N, 123°55’5.73″W
Located at the Necanicum Estuary, North Gateway Park has opportunities to see birds such as Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, Horned and Western Grebe, Great Blue Heron, American Coot, Sanderling, Greater Yellowlegs, Western Sandpiper, Western Gull, Surf Scoter, and Canada Goose. Directions – on Hwy 101 (Roosevelt Drive), on the north end of Seaside. Parking is available in a small gravel lot on the west side of the street, just north of the drive-through coffee stand.
North Gateway Park, U.S. 101, Seaside, OR, USA
46°0’53.88″N, 123°54’41.88″W
Saddle Mountain is one of the tallest peaks in the Coastal Range. The hike up to the top is challenging, but might reward you with sightings of Vaux’s Swift, Calliope Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Hermit Warbler, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Blue Grouse, Varied Thrush, and Gray-crowned Rosy Finch. Directions – from Hwy 101, take exit for Hwy 26 heading east (towards Portland). After Approximately 10 miles, turn left onto Saddle Mountain Road. Parking is available at the end of the road, approximately 7 miles.
Saddle Mountain, Oregon, USA
(503) 368-5943
45°57’45.56″N, 123°41’23.00″W
Seaside Cove, at the south end of Seaside, is located where the sandy beach meets the rocky headland. During the winter, look for Harlequin Duck, Common Loon, Western Grebe, Surf Scoter and Black Scoter. Occasionally, storms will bring in Northern Fulmar and Red Phalarope, and you can find Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot and Pelagic Cormorant year-round. Directions – from Hwy 101 (Roosevelt Drive), turn on Avenue U heading west. Turn left at S Edgewood Street. Parking is available along Edgewood Street at the cove.
Seaside Cove, Evergreen Drive, Seaside, OR, USA
45°58’32.04″N, 123°56’20.83″W