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Toledo Waterfront Park and Pavilion

Toledo was not our destination when we left home in the van yesterday morning.  It was cold and foggy in Dallas, and we were looking for warmth and sunshine. Based on the weather forecast we had selected Lincoln City. Our first stop was just north of Lincoln City at Cascade Head Interpretive Wayside on Fraser Rd off of Highway 101, which has a good viewpoint out over the Salmon River Estuary.  Despite bright sunshine it was still a cold 37 degrees. We made a quick bird list and got back in the warm van and drove south through Lincoln City to Siletz Bay and the Alder Island Trail where the temperature was 47 degrees.  Sitting in the van with the sun pouring in the windshield we enjoyed a quick lunch before birding the loop trail. The day was still young, so we decided to extend our birding trip to include a stop in Toledo via the route up the Siletz River. We seem to be drawn back to Toledo again and again, I quess for a variety of reasons. Jeanette and I both have early childhood memories there. We both continue to be drawn to small towns, but in truth we are drawn mainly to Toledo's Waterfront Park along Depot Slough, and as you might have guessed, the birding. The Depot Slough Path meanders through the Marina and the Waterfront Park alongside Depot Slough which serves as a good location for waterfowl year around. Here we seemed to be protected from the cold east wind and the bright sunshine warmed us to the point we almost didn't need our winter coasts. The bird sightings mounted, and the light was just right for photos. 

Hermit Thrush

We identified 17 different species of birds, of which I was able to photograph ten. The Hermit Thrush was the "bird of the day". It is the most elusive of the Thrush Family which in includes, the Varied Thrush, the Swainson's Thrush, and the American Robin.  We were thrilled to get this sighting and photo; it is the first ever for this location of a Hermit Thrush.  They really have earned their name and are quite secretive.  You can see our complete Observation List here.