Birdathon

The Murre the Merrier team, raising funds for Portland Audubon Society in a 1-day Birdathon from Portland to the coast 5/12/18.

Team photo taken at Oceanside Beach

Morning highlights: Western Wood-peewee and Western Tanager at Pittock Mansion; Hermit Warblers, Hammond's Flycatcher, Evening Grosbeak, and 2 American Dippers at Jones Creek Day Use Area in the Coast Range on the way to Tillamook.

Jones Creek Day Use Area

We saw 2 Black-bellied Plovers and a Whimbrel at Sitka Sedge Natural Area.

Sitka Sedge Natural Area

We had lunch at the beach house of our leader's parents in Pacific City, overlooking Haystack Rock where we saw Tufted Puffin and Osprey. In the afternoon, we encountered dense fog at Cape Meares but managed to spot a Red-necked Grebe among the Surf Scoters. The fog was further out at Oceanside Beach, enabling us to see Pacific Loons, Black Oystercatcher, and our eponym, Common Murre. Purple Martins were in the birdhouses at Bay City Oyster Company.

Looking south from Bay City Oyster Company

Sewage Ponds at Bay City and Nehalem added only a few ducks to our list (Northern Shoveler, Gadwall; Ring-necked Duck, 1 Bufflehead). The team finished the day at Dawson Creek in Hillsboro, with a total of 101 birds for the day!