Coastal Escape

 We were able to carve three days out of our busy schedule to escape to the Oregon Coast in our camper van. We left on the first dry day, Wednesday November 9th, and returned on the next day of rain, November 11th. Even thought we were desirous of getting away from it all for a few days, Jeanette found herself still involved in solving problems. Here she is shown conducting business with Dallas Retirement Village on her iPhone in the middle of a birdwalk on the Bluebill Trail in the Coos Bay area. It was a good thing, as she was able to put together a replacement instructor for the water aerobics class. The Bluebill Trail is a favorite of ours, you can check it out here.

Freezing weather and icy road conditions favored a driving route down I-5 and over to the coast through Elkton to Reedsport. We made a quick stop to count birds at Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area, and then lunch at Subway in Reedsport.  The next birding stop was at William Tugman State Park for a quick break, and then on to Bluebill Lake where we had a great time birding (list).  Pony Village in North Bend was our final stop for the day with dinner from Taco Bell and an overnight parking spot.

We started our morning at the North Bend Boardwalk to bird, but cold fog and clouds prevented the morning sun from providing any heat, and a sharp wind soon sent us back inside the van. Next was a drive out to the Charleston Boat Basin to check out an e-Birding Hot Spot. Here we found a locked gate, so backtracked to Empire and a stop at John Topits Park to bird the Empire Lakes.  A wonderful asphalt tail system provides a great opportunity for walking, and the lakes gave us a fantastic number of birds. (list).

Wood Duck pair

We spent the remainder of the morning in the van working on bird photos and lunch before morning on to Mingus Park in Coos Bay for afternoon birding (list). 

Eurasian Wigeon male

Rain was forecast for the next morning, so we decided to start driving north up the coast while we still had dry conditions and daylight.  Overnight parking ideas started with the Umpqua Lighthouse, then next to Flornce, then Yachats and eventually ending in the dark at Waldport at our secret and continuing favorite location. Dinner and to bed. In the pre-dawn light, I got to hear and see a big fight as a Western Gull and a Glaucous-winged Gull chased off a Bald Eagle. 

As we continued north up the coast, we continued to by-pass possible birding stops due to cold overcast weather. Finally, we made a birding stop at a big time favorite of ours, Alder Island Trail at Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Here on the Alder Island Trail, the sun shone through, and we were treated to a good number of active birds. (list)

Downey Woodpecker female

Again, we were grateful for the warmth of the van to spend the rest of our morning.  I worked on photos, and Jeanette worked at reorganizing cupboards.  We enjoyed lunch while watching hikers arrive to walk the trail, only to have to scurry back to their cars when the rain arrived. As we drove home, we had the sense that we had a good trip and were successful at a "reset" to our busy lives.