Sunday morning : Cannon Beach
Gorgeous sunny morning!
Today's 7 am songbird field
trip again headed to the productive Tawah Creek at Cannon Beach Bridge. A
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE from the nearby forest popped over to the willows. A
WILSON'S SNIPE winnowed overhead. The usual assortment of warblers sang from
the willows and alders, perfect habitat.
Enticed by the thundering of
distant surf, we walked through the coastal hemlock/spruce rainforest.
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS flitted through the dense branches, their high, thin
song in complete contrast to their loud cousin, the RUBY-CROWNED that was also
singing. ROBIN, VARIED THRUSH, and HERMIT THRUSH songs filled the air. COMMON
RAVENS croaked overhead. A little park featured a rusted American tank from
WWII and provided edge habitat for warblers.
Then, there was the Gulf of
Alaska ahead with white lines of rolling surf crashing into the beautiful sandy
beach that stretched for miles and miles in each direction. Scoping beyond the
surf turned up long lines of SURF, BLACK, and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS flying just
above the ocean. PACIFIC and RED-THROATED LOONS singly or in small groups dove.
A few ALEUTIAN TERNS, BANK and TREE SWALLOWS flew over the beach.
BALD EAGLES perched on
scattered driftwood perches. SONG SPARROWS, FOX SPARROWS, and OREGON JUNCOS
hopped around in the lupines and sang from battered logs. A HERMIT THRUSH posed
from bleached stack of driftwood. Scanning the sandy beach, we were surprised
to see a single WHIMBREL strolling along, picking through the sand for snacks.
All too soon, it was time to head back for the next event.
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