Rounding out the Year

Hooded Oriole, 6th Ave., Seaside, 12/30/19

Red-shouldered Hawk, along Biz. Hwy 101, just south of intersection with Wireless Road, 12/30/19

Eurasian Wigeon, Mill Pond, Astoria, 12/30/19 (probably the same one I saw during CBC 12/15/19).

Christmas Bird Count

Counting birds in Astoria in a Christmas Bird Count 12/15/19, a tradition started in 1900 by the Audubon Society. Over 77,000 people participate in CBCs each year in the US, Canada, and Latin America.

Highlights included finding Eurasian Wigeon in two different places (above) and also finding Common Goldeneye (below) in two places (a species that only we found).

One of the unique birds that only we found was a Great Egret, way off in the distance. Scoping proved that it was indeed an egret, and not just a plastic bag.

Another unique bird, that only we found, was Orange-crowned Warbler (above), at Bucky's feeder on 6th near Exchange, across the street from where a goat lives (below).

It was foggy all morning, and only warmed up to the low 40s all day, but at least it didn't rain!

We found two Lincoln's Sparrows in a the brambles in a big field along the Columbia River, in the morning fog.

Diana in the CBC (with sky as imagined by Alan).

Cannon Beach - Monthly Sewage Lagoon Walk

The Cannon Beach birding group saw a good assortment of ducks on our monthly walk at the sewage lagoons today. Highlights included a male Eurasian Wigeon, a male hybrid Eurasian Wigeon X American Wigeon, a Redhead, a Canvasback, and 2 Common Goldeneyes. A few hundred Red Phalaropes were still swimming in circles. There have been a couple of waves of Red Phalaropes this year, in greater than usual numbers.

Eurasian Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon X American Wigeon hybrid

Redhead

Canvasback with 3 Ring-necked Ducks

Red Phalarope