Salem Audubon Society

06/17/2026

SAS ANKENY NWR FIELD TRIP SUMMARY
June 16, 2026

Today, Tim and I led our Salem Audubon monthly birding field trip to Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge. We were joined by 19 other birders, including a family with several young birders. It was a lovely morning with clear skies, temperatures between 66°F and 75°F, and light winds of 5–9 mph.

We made two stops around the refuge: Ankeny Hill Nature Center and Eagle Marsh. Across both locations, we observed (saw or heard) 43 bird species. That is up from 39 species in June 2024 but slightly down from 46 species last June.

Observations at Ankeny Hill Nature

During our visit to the Ankeny Hill Nature Center, we observed a total of 12 bird species. A highlight was spotting a Western Bluebird using a nestbox just below the center. We did not notice any other unusual observations at the center. For a complete list of all species observed during the trip, please refer to the eBird checklist linked at the end of this report.

Eagle Marsh Birding Highlights

During our visit to Eagle Marsh, we recorded an impressive 39 bird species as we looped around the west and south sides before returning to the parking lot. We ventured out as far as Teal and Willow Marshes, but there was little activity due to the lack of water and dense plant material covering the marshes. The early morning was filled with birdsong: American Robin, Black-headed Grosbeak, Swainson's Thrush, Song Sparrow, Marsh Wren, Western Warbling Vireo, and several warbler species were all singing actively throughout our walk.

Notable Sightings
• Raptors: We observed only two raptor species: the Bald Eagle and the American Kestrel. Surprisingly, we did not see a Red-tailed Hawk or a Turkey Vulture.
• Woodpeckers: We spotted only two woodpecker species: the Downy Woodpecker and the Northern Flicker. Many in the group got good looks at a male Downy Woodpecker.
• Flycatchers: The first flycatchers to catch our eye were a pair of Black Phoebes on the west side of the marsh. One of the phoebes perched on a metal pole, sallying back and forth to catch insects. Western Wood-Pewees were very vocal throughout the walk, and we also heard a Willow Flycatcher.
• Wrens and Warblers: There were a few Marsh and Bewick's Wrens around the marsh. But the warblers especially caught our attention with their constant singing, particularly the Northern Yellow Warbler and the Common Yellowthroat. We also heard a Wilson's Warbler and spotted a male Common Yellowthroat before it quickly disappeared into the willows.

Abundant Species

Five species reached double-digit counts in individual observations, reflecting the rich bird life along the trail this morning. The Mallard was the top species with 31 individuals. Other double-digit species included the American Robin (22), Swainson's Thrush (18), Western Wood-Pewee (14), and Song Sparrow (13).

For a detailed checklist of all species observed, please refer to the eBird checklist link at the end of this report.

Species Highlights
• Green Heron: A Green Heron was seen on Eagle Marsh and then flew by us later on the walk.
• American Bittern: We observed an American Bittern when it gave its signature “oong-KA-chunk” call next to Willow Marsh. We never got to see the bittern.
• Bushtit: A family of Bushtits were seen on the west side of the trail along Eagle Marsh.

A link to our eBird checklists and Trip Report follows.

Our next bird walks are as follows:

Baskett Slough NWR – Friday, June 20, 2026, at 9:00 AM. Meet at the Rich Guadagno Trailhead Parking Lot on Coville Road.

Illahe Hills Country Club - Monday, June 22, 2026, at 8:00 AM. Park in the main parking area, not in front of the clubhouse! Please contact the leader at [email protected] to confirm your registration for this trip.

Keizer Rapids Park – Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 9:00 AM. Meet in the last parking lot near the boat ramp.
Please join us if you can.
Mike Unger
Keizer, OR

Ankeny NWR Checklist Summary for June 16, 2026

Number of Species: 43

Checklists included in this summary:
(1): Ankeny NWR--Ankeny Hill Nature Center @ 7:32 AM
(2): Ankeny NWR – Eagle Marsh @ 8:04 AM
Follow these links for the eBird lists:

(1) https://ebird.org/checklist/S358285736

(2) https://ebird.org/checklist/S358350798

Here is the link for the Trip Report: https://ebird.org/tripreport/539837

16 Jun, 2026. Created by Mike Unger

06/15/2026

I'm a medium-sized songbird with a black body, white back and creamy yellow patch on the back of my head. I breed in tallgrass and mixed prairies as well as cultivated hayfields across the northern U.S. and southern Canada. I like the fields near the Malheur Field Station. Who am I?

06/07/2026

SAS Minto-Brown Island Park Bird Walk Report
June 7, 2026

This morning, Tim, Paul, and I co-led the Salem Audubon bird walk at Minto-Brown Island Park, attended by 22 enthusiastic participants. Weather conditions were pleasant, with partly cloudy skies, temperatures ranging from 52 to 61 degrees, and light winds up to 7 miles per hour that added a slight chill at the start of the walk.

We began at Parking Lot #3, proceeding to Oxbow Slough before continuing east along the Red Osprey Loop. The walk covered 1.71 miles over 2.55 hours, during which we recorded an impressive 51 bird species by sight or sound. This represents a slight increase from last year’s June walk, when 49 species were observed, and stands as the second-highest species total recorded over the past 11 years. The highest count remains 52 species, documented in 2019.

The highlights were as follows:
• The highlight of the walk was the breeding activity observed along the tree line east of Parking Lot #3. We encountered a family of four Brown Creepers on nearby tree trunks, including an adult feeding a juvenile at close range. A Bushtit was also observed carrying nesting material. Juvenile Spotted Sandpipers were seen along the north bank of the river, and Canada Goose goslings and young Mallards were present on Oxbow Slough.
• Another memorable sighting was Anna’s Hummingbird hovering as it deftly captured insects’ mid-air.
• Birdsong accompanied the early part of the walk, with Swainson’s Thrush, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Northern Yellow Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, and Black-headed Grosbeak all singing energetically. A brief time later, we enjoyed an excellent view of a Swainson’s Thrush perched in a tree, singing in full voice.
• We observed five raptor species during the walk, including Bald Eagle, Osprey, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, and American Kestrel. Later in the outing, we watched an Osprey carrying a fish back toward its nest. We also observed a Bald Eagle attending a nest on the east end of the park.
• We encountered four of the five expected woodpecker species, including Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, and Northern Flicker. Many participants enjoyed excellent views of the Red-breasted Sapsucker, a particularly memorable sighting for the group.
• Swallow activity along the river was exceptional, with five species observed: Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Tree Swallow, and Northern Rough-winged Swallow.
• Western Wood-Pewee was the lone flycatcher recorded during the walk.
• Other notable observations included Band-tailed Pigeon (only the second time it has been recorded on these walks), Belted Kingfisher, both nuthatch species, and Western Meadowlark. One participant observed the meadowlark in the field south of the eagle’s nest.
• The main species we missed during this walk were California Quail, Mourning Dove, Lesser Goldfinch, Lazuli Bunting, any owl, and Brown-headed Cowbird.

Our next events are:

Willamette Mission State Park - Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 9:00 AM. Meet in the Filbert Grove day-use area. A state park pass is required for this location. (Single day permits can also be purchased for $10 from the fee station near the park entrance.

Ankeny NWR – Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 7:30 AM. Meet in the Ankeny Hill Nature Center parking lot. Note: Starting in July this walk will start at 8:00 AM.

Baskett Slough NWR – Friday, June 20, 2026, at 9:00 AM. Meet at the Rich Guadagno Trailhead Parking Lot on Coville Road.

Illahe Hills Country Club - Monday, June 22, 2026, at 8:00 AM. Park in the main parking area, not in front of the clubhouse! Please contact the leader at [email protected] to confirm your registration for this trip.

Keizer Rapids Park – Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 9:00 AM. Meet in the last parking lot near the boat ramp.

Please join us if you can.

Mike Unger
Keizer, OR

Minto-Brown Island Park Checklist Summary for June 7, 2026

Identified Species: 51

Checklists included in this summary:
Minto-Brown Island Park 7:40 AM

7 Canada Goose
11 Wood Duck
12 Mallard
2 Band-tailed Pigeon
1 Eurasian Collared-Dove
2 Vaux's Swift
3 Anna's Hummingbird
5 Killdeer
8 Spotted Sandpiper
3 Great Blue Heron
1 Turkey Vulture
2 Osprey
2 Bald Eagle
2 Red-tailed Hawk
1 Belted Kingfisher
3 Red-breasted Sapsucker
1 Downy Woodpecker
3 Hairy Woodpecker
5 Northern Flicker
2 American Kestrel
9 Western Wood-Pewee
4 Western Warbling Vireo
3 Steller's Jay
3 California Scrub-Jay
4 Black-capped Chickadee
4 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
4 Tree Swallow
5 Violet-green Swallow
2 Northern Rough-winged Swallow
2 Barn Swallow
1 Cliff Swallow
2 Bushtit
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch
8 Brown Creeper
5 Bewick's Wren
7 European Starling
12 Swainson's Thrush
17 American Robin
11 Cedar Waxwing
1 House Sparrow
1 House Finch
3 Purple Finch
3 American Goldfinch
6 White-crowned Sparrow
15 Song Sparrow
5 Spotted Towhee
1 Western Meadowlark
5 Orange-crowned Warbler
7 Northern Yellow Warbler
6 Black-headed Grosbeak

View this checklist online at:

05/25/2026

Long-legged like a heron, my all-white feathers and yellow bill tend to make me an easy spot in my preferred habitat. Other recognizable marks include my black legs and a long, S-shaped neck. During breeding season, I develop showy plumes. Who am I?

05/17/2026

SAS ANKENY NWR FIELD TRIP SUMMARY
May 17, 2026

Today, Tim, Paul, and I had the pleasure of leading the Salem Audubon Society’s monthly birding field trip at Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, joined by 21 enthusiastic birders.

The weather cooperated nicely, with mostly cloudy skies, no rain, and temperatures ranging from 45 to 54 degrees. A light breeze of 0 to 10 mph added a bit of chill, especially toward the end of the walk.

Our outing included stops at both the Ankeny Hill Nature Center—a hub for environmental education and wildlife observation—and the Rail Trail, known for its excellent birding opportunities. Altogether, we observed or heard 57 bird species, surpassing last May’s total by three; in 2024, we recorded 51 species.

Most notable sightings:
• During our visit to Ankeny Hill Nature Center, we recorded 14 bird species. Highlights included two Western Bluebirds near nest boxes in the field below the nature center and a pair of Tree Swallows associated with another nest box. We also observed a male American Kestrel perched in a nearby tree and a Lazuli Bunting singing from another tree.
• Next, we went to the Rail Trail where we followed the edges of the trail, weaving past thickets of willows and other trees, where bird activity surrounded us at every turn. Common Yellowthroats popped up frequently, flashing their masks before disappearing again, while a Western Wood-Pewee repeatedly sallied out from a branch, deftly catching insects’ midair. Marsh Wrens filled the air with their lively chatter, and from deeper in the marsh came the unmistakable calls of nine Soras and several Virginia Rails. The true soundtrack of the walk, though, was the constant, bright song of Northern Yellow Warblers, echoing all around us. Adding to the excitement, a few fortunate birders watched an American Bittern suddenly lift from the marsh, its broad wings carrying it low over the reeds before dropping back into cover. We also heard the drumming of a Red-breasted Sapsucker.
• The Rail Trail itself was on the quiet side. But on the trail leading to the boardwalk, we saw four Brown Creepers with some on tree trunks and the others flitting around. There were a few Song Sparrows as well as Bewick’s Wrens. We did hear a Hutton’s Vireo as we were returning to the parking lot.
• We observed a lively mix of swallows flying along the way including Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, and Violet-green Swallow. Their agile flight and constant activity added to the vibrant atmosphere above the marsh, with each species displaying its distinctive flight style and markings.

Other notable sightings included Band-tailed Pigeon, Northern Harrier, Hairy Woodpecker, and Purple Martin. We also heard Western Tanager.

Links to the eBird checklists and the eBird Trip Report follow.

Our next SAS bird walk will be at Champoeg State Park on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 9:00 am. See the Kestrel or our website: salemaudubon.org for details.

The Minto-Brown Island Park bird walk is on Sunday, June 7 at 7:30 am (note the time change). Meet in Parking Lot #3 (the last parking lot in the park). We plan to be finished around 10:30 AM.

Directions: From River Road South, turn west at the signal at Minto Island Road and proceed to the last parking lot.

Mike Unger
Keizer, OR

Ankeny NWR Checklist Summary for May 17, 2026
Number of Species: 57

Checklists included in this summary:
(1): Ankeny NWR--Ankeny Hill Nature Center @ 8:00 AM
(2): Ankeny NWR – Rail Trail @ 8:33 AM
Ankeny Hill Nature Center - https://ebird.org/checklist/S341010585
Rail Trail - https://ebird.org/checklist/S341164858
Follow this link for the eBird Trip Report: https://ebird.org/tripreport/524061

05/08/2026

SAS Minto-Brown Island Park Bird Walk Report
May 7, 2026

Tim and I led the Salem Audubon bird walk at Minto-Brown Island Park this morning, with nine participants. Conditions were overcast with calm to light winds up to 9 mph; temperatures ranged from 55–61°F (NWS Salem and field estimates). Over three hours, we covered 2.25 miles on the Purple Rabbit and Blue Heron Trails (west end), recording 45 species—slightly above last year’s 44 (51 in 2024; 49 in 2023).

Highlights from the Walk:
• Spring Migration in Full Swing: Spring filled the park with a lively chorus of birdsong. Most of the passerines were singing enthusiastically, especially Bewick’s Wrens, Purple Finches, and Black-headed Grosbeaks. We also enjoyed excellent views of Bewick’s Wren singing out in the open.
• Wood Duck Surprise: Not entirely unexpected, we saw 25 last year—but it was still a treat to find 22 Wood Ducks on Oxbow Slough, including several young ducklings.
• Warbler Variety: Five warbler species recorded: Orange-crowned, Yellow, Wilson’s, Black-throated Gray, and Common Yellowthroat. Notable was the high number of Northern Yellow Warblers—16 detected across the park, an underestimate (9 at this time last year).
• Raptor Roundup: Raptor diversity was low, with only Turkey Vulture and Osprey observed; no American Kestrel, Cooper’s Hawk, Bald Eagle, or Red-tailed Hawk detected.
• Woodpecker Watch: Highlight of the day was two Pileated Woodpeckers; one provided excellent views atop a snag while foraging. Also recorded Red-breasted Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, and Northern Flicker; no Hairy Woodpecker detected.
• Other Notable Sightings: Additional highlights included a female Belted Kingfisher perched on a limb overlooking Oxbow Slough west of the bridge. Several Warbling Vireos were vocal, and we recorded our first Swainson’s Thrush of the year.
• Water’s Edge Finds: Along Oxbow Slough, four duck species were observed, including Wood Ducks. Several Great Blue Herons were present, along with geese and a Killdeer; no coots, grebes, or mergansers detected.

The upcoming events include:

Illahe Hills CC Bird Walk, Monday, May 11, 2026, at 8:00 AM Meet in front of the clubhouse. Park in the main parking area, not opposite the clubhouse! Please contact the leader at [email protected] to confirm your registration for this trip.

Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, Sunday, May 17th at 8:00 AM. Meet at the Ankeny Hill Nature Center off Ankeny Hill Road SE at 8:00 am.

Champoeg State Park, Thursday, May 21st at 9:00 AM. Meet in the Oak Grove Day Use Parking Lot. A valid Oregon State Parks Pass is required; a $10.00 day pass can be purchased on site. Please bring water and binoculars! We should be finished by noon.

Please join us if you can.

Mike Unger
Keizer, OR

Minto-Brown Island Park Checklist Summary for May 7, 2026
Identified Species: 45
11 Canada Goose
22 Wood Duck
2 Gadwall
8 Mallard
2 Ring-necked Duck
1 California Quail
2 Mourning Dove
1 Anna's Hummingbird
1 hummingbird sp. -- Flew away too fast to ID.
1 Killdeer
3 Great Blue Heron
3 Turkey Vulture
1 Osprey
1 Belted Kingfisher
1 Red-breasted Sapsucker
1 Downy Woodpecker
2 Pileated Woodpecker
5 Northern Flicker
7 Western Warbling Vireo
1 Steller's Jay
1 California Scrub-Jay
1 American Crow
4 Black-capped Chickadee
2 Tree Swallow
1 Bushtit
2 Red-breasted Nuthatch
2 Brown Creeper
15 Bewick's Wren
3 European Starling
2 Swainson's Thrush
11 American Robin
10 Purple Finch
10 Lesser Goldfinch
1 American Goldfinch
4 White-crowned Sparrow
9 Song Sparrow
13 Spotted Towhee
1 Red-winged Blackbird
1 Brown-headed Cowbird
3 Orange-crowned Warbler
1 Common Yellowthroat
16 Northern Yellow Warbler
3 Black-throated Gray Warbler
3 Wilson's Warbler
1 Western Tanager
8 Black-headed Grosbeak

View this checklist online at

05/04/2026

I'm a small, lemon yellow colored songbird with chestnut/orange streaks on my breast. My song is often described as 'sweet, sweet, I'm so sweet.' Who am I?

Hint: I am just migrating back to the valley from central and northern South America.

04/30/2026

Bloom of the Week:

Bees love my little flowers, and I'm sometimes called summer snapdragon. I'm an easy-care annual plant for gardens and containers, and I thrive on heat and humidity. Who am I?

This seems to be another tough one but we'll soon see if it is.

04/25/2026

SAS ANKENY NWR FIELD TRIP SUMMARY
April 25, 2026

Joseph and I led today’s Salem Audubon field trip to Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, joined by 19 fellow birders for a truly memorable morning. Under clear skies and mild temperatures ranging from 51 to 61 degrees, with light winds of 3 to 9 mph, conditions were ideal. We began at the nature center before heading to Eagle Marsh and then Pintail Marsh, which proved especially productive. During a 1.46-mile walk around Pintail Marsh, we recorded 52 species alone, including warblers, Marsh Wrens, and several Soras heard calling. In total, we made three stops throughout the refuge and identified 61 species, seen or heard. By comparison, we tallied 57 species last year and 56 in 2024, making this year’s outing particularly successful.

Highlights from the Outing
• Warbler Diversity:
Migration is clearly underway, as we observed five warbler species: Orange-crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Wilson’s Warbler. The Common Yellowthroat was the most frequently encountered, with seven observations. At one point along the western edge of Pintail Marsh, we believed we saw a female Black-throated Gray Warbler carrying nesting material, though the sighting could not be confirmed.
• Woodpecker Encounters:
We spotted five out of the six woodpecker species we expected: Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Acorn Woodpecker, and Red-breasted Sapsucker.
• Duck Variety:
While duck total numbers were modest, we still managed to find 12 species: Mallard, Bufflehead, American Wigeon, Green winged Teal, Ring necked Duck, Ruddy Duck, Cinnamon Teal, Wood Duck, Gadwall, Lesser Scaup, Northern Shoveler, and Redhead. At first, we had only 11, but as we went over the eBird list we heard someone mention two Redheads on the far side of the marsh. We quickly headed over and discovered that birding aficionado Roy had already spotted them and kindly pointed them out to us.
• Raptor Sightings:
It was a solid raptor day, with four Bald Eagles, several Turkey Vultures, a Red tailed Hawk, an Osprey, and an American Kestrel. Notably, we spotted a pair of Bald Eagles perched above the large eagle nest just to the northeast of the Pintail Marsh parking lot.
• Abundant Species:
The most numerous birds recorded were Cackling Geese (2,500) and Red-winged Blackbirds (160).
Other observations:

• As for shorebirds and water birds, we heard seven different Soras giving their distinctive whinny, “whee-hee-hee-hee-hee” call. We watched large groups of Western and Least Sandpipers fly overhead, flushed a single Wilson’s Snipe along the west edge of Pintail Marsh, and recorded one Long billed Dowitcher and a Greater Yellowlegs. We also saw a single Great Egret on the east side of Pintail Marsh.
• We heard a couple of Western Meadowlarks at the nature center, and observed four swallow species, including a group of 15 Cliff Swallows.

Our next three SAS bird walks are:
• Minto-Brown Island Park on Thursday, May 7th at 8:00 AM. Meet in parking lot #3 at the end of Minto Island Road S.
• Illahe Hills CC on Monday, May 11th at 8:00 AM Please contact the leader at [email protected] to confirm your registration for this trip. Registered participants should meet at the Country Club entrance at 8:00 AM. Please Park in the main parking area, not in front of the clubhouse!
• Ankeny NWR on Sunday, May 17th at 8:00 AM Meet at the Ankeny Hill Nature Center parking lot off Ankeny Hill Road.

Note: See the Kestrel newsletter or our website (Upcoming Events) for additional details. Here is a link to our website: https://www.salemaudubon.org/

Mike Unger
Keizer, Oregon

Ankeny NWR Checklist Summary for April 25, 2026

Number of Species: 61

eBird Checklists included in this summary:

(1): Ankeny NWR-Ankeny Hill Nature Center 7:53 AM https://ebird.org/checklist/S327135075
(2): Ankeny NWR- Eagle Marsh 8:26 AM https://ebird.org/checklist/S327158243
(3): Ankeny NWR-Pintail Marsh 8:57 AM https://ebird.org/checklist/S327276744

See the eBird checklist links below along with the Trip Report link which will show all the species observed.

eBird Trip Report link: https://ebird.org/tripreport/505743

25 Apr, 2026. Created by Mike Unger

04/14/2026

Bird of the Week:

I'm a striking, black-and-white bird of the prairies. My beak is pale gray in color. I prefer grassland and shrub-steppe habitats in central North America. Despite my name, I'm classified as a sparrow.

Who I am. (I am also known as Tim's nemesis bird).