Sauvie Island: Westside Rivers, Lakes, and Sloughs

The fall migration is on! Canada geese are gathering, blackbirds are blanketing tall trees, and I've already heard sandhill cranes chortling in the corn fields of Sauvie Island. White pelicans and Great Egrets are flocking in ponds and the duck selection is ramping up, too. Of course, the cute California Quail are still darting around the roads, being hilarious.

This is the last week to enjoy the lovely backroads of Sauvie, they will all close for the winter at the end of September 30th.

We'll meet at the Wapato Access Greenway parking area where you can park for free (unless you're driving yourself the whole way instead of carpooling with me, then see below) and then continue from there to various birding spots along the scenic back roads of the Westside Unit, including Steelman and Round Lakes, the Multnomah Channel, Gilbert River, and the Big Eddy. No restroom at Wapato, but various restrooms at destination.

We'll only be walking short distances of a couple hundred feet over gravel, grass, and uneven dirt at each stop, but the bugs are definitely out, so DEET is recommended. There are plenty of blackberries left to eat, so bring a container if you want to take home a sweet souvenir.

Bring water, snacks, binoculars/spotting scope, camera, bugspray and WEATHER appropriate clothing. Adults only, please, and no pets, thanks.

PARKING PASS: All drivers who want to drive their own vehicle instead of carpooling with me (I can take 3 people, first come, first served) will need an ODFW Wildlife Area Parking Permit ($10). Lots of stores carry them. You can also pick one up on the island at the Cracker Barrel Store at 15005 NW Sauvie Island Road (open at 6 AM).