Pacific Coast Winter Birding

 I love visiting the Pacific coast in the wintertime!  This winter we went to the central and southern Oregon coast, as well as the northern California coast.  It is a wonderful time of year for birding and tide pooling!  

Black Oystercatcher taking a bath.

Western Gull with Sea Star stuffed in its mouth!

Long billed birds

Long Billed Curlew

Willet

Whimbrel

Marbled Godwit

Grebes and Loons

Horned Grebe

Western Grebe

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Brant

Common Goldeneye

Two American Wigeons and one Eurasian Wigeon (rufous-brown head)

Least Sandpiper

Surf Scoter (there are also Black Scoters and White-winged Scoters this time of year).

Western Meadowlark

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Hermit Thrush

I love harbor Seals!

This is mom falling down on the job, as the baby Harbor Seal rolls off the rocks into the sea.

There are so many varieties of Sea Stars. Low tide is my favorite and the best time to find them.

More images of coastal life

Interesting rock formation found on the beach.

Sometimes you may find a fossil in the shape of a heart, if you look hard enough!

This was only a sample of the many birds you will spot when visiting the Pacific Coast in the wintertime.  Grab your binoculars and camera, and Happy Birding!

Oregon Coast Birding in the Winter

The Oregon Coast is the number one reason I love Oregon.  From Astoria to the north,  Brookings to the South, and every stretch in between, there are places to stop for amazing pictures and quiet beach time. The uncrowded Oregon coast is one of the most beautiful places in the United States.

Below are a few of the many birds I found this winter while birding this spectacular area.  Some can be found year-round along the coast, and others are only here for the winter.   

The Black Oyster-catcher is one that's easy to spot with their bright orange beak.
These can be found year-round.

Black Oyster-catcher

The magnificent Bald Eagle
They are easily seen along the coast where there's an abundance of tasty food for the pickin'.

It was fun to watch this pair of Bald Eagles interact.

Double-crested Cormorant
There are three types of Cormorants along the Oregon Coast and all are easy to find:
Double-crested Cormorant, Brandt's Cormorant, and Pelagic Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

 

Harlequin Duck (female and male) - My favorite winter duck to visit us.

A closer look at the beautiful male Harlequin Ducks 

The very fast Peregrine Falcon is always a treat to see. 

Common Loon (non-breeding)

Sanderling - The Sanderling is easy to identify with their black bill and black legs as they
 move quickly, flying and hanging out in large groups on the beach in the winter.

The colorful Western Bluebird (male)

The Surf Scoter is one of three types of Scoters we see in the Pacific Ocean in the Winter.
(Black Scoter and White-winged Scoter are the other two) 

Black Scoter
This is not the best picture of these Winter Scoters since 
they were pretty far out at sea, but still very fun to see! 

The Common Goldeneye is another winter only duck.

Black Turnstone - These winter birds blend in and very often difficult to spot.

The pretty Bufflehead who you'll see in the winter along the Pacific Coast

Thousands and thousands of Common Murre's arrive in Oregon in the Winter,
and stay until the end of summer typically.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Brant - This goose is a winter visitor to the Oregon Coast.

The American Wigeon is a winter only duck along the coast.

Lincoln Sparrow

I love seeing sea stars (or starfish which they used to be called)

The beautiful Oregon Coast