Sun, Sep 20 · 7:00 AM PDT
It's almost autumn, and more and more shorebirds are trickling in! If you're like me, you're super duper excited! They are adorable and can be challenging to identify!! Join me for something a little different than my past outings...
Mostly fixating on shorebirds, we will keep a steady pace until we get to good shorebird spots. Then, we will watch and learn how to identify shorebirds - even at a distance and even just by call. Since it is almost autumn, we might find some rare or uncommon migrants that aren't shorebirds. We will also be paying attention to waterfowl and other birds, but don't expect a slow pace paying attention to every usual suspect.
At 7am, we will meet at Fernhill Wetlands at the wooden gazebo/shelter at the parking lot. There is ample parking, including ADA. There is a water bottle fill station. There is a plumbed toilet, but it has been closed. There are at least port-a-potties. There are multiple opportunities for sitting. It is mostly flat. It is mostly exposed, but there are a couple of sheltered gazebos. We will walk 2 miles give or take. Option to bring coffee or goodies for the group to share before heading out!
Around 11am, we will meet at Jackson Bottom Wetlands south parking lot - NOT the main one by CWS. There is parking, no bathrooms. We will walk a mile give or take. It is mostly flat with dirt and rocks. We might drive to the other parking lot, which has a vault toilet.
Around 2:30pm, we will meet at Tualatin River NWR by the nature store. There is a bathroom and a water bottle fill station. This is a good opportunity to eat a late lunch! This part will be mostly stationary, scoping out shorebirds from behind the nature store. Please bring a scope if you have one. I will provide one, and they have one inside the nature store to use. Depending on desires and needs, we may walk on the seasonal trail afterwards. It is mostly exposed. There is an opportunity to sit. There is a slight hill at first, then it's mostly flat. If daylight permits and people have the desire, we may walk into the woods to look for Great Horned Owls.
What to bring: water, snacks, a lunch, sunscreen, birding and photography gear if applicable, field guide and/or app(s) (digital field guides,) whatever else you need/want to. I will bring a spotting scope, paper and digital field guides, and an extra pair of binoculars.
This is an all day event, but it is encouraged to come for only what you are available for. It isn't all or nothing! We will caravan from location to location, but carpooling is encouraged. Please e-mail me with any accessibility needs, questions, what part(s) you're planning on attending, your general location, and if you're willing to carpool! My e-mail address is vvolkman@ymail.com :-) Feel free to text me as well and on the day of if you are heading our way and need to know where we are. My # is 541-968-9177