Watching Seabirds from Land in the Pacific Northwest Site Guide Tips & Techniques Checklist

With a lot of help from my friends, I have put together the favorite land based seawat ch sites along the Pacific Coast. I have tried to discuss not only the most productive site, but also sites with good access for watching from a vehicle or good cover. As often as not, some of the best weather for finding the best seabirds are on the days when walking to a lookout is least inviting.

1. Brown Point Jetty near Ocean Shores, Gray's Harbor Co., WA
Washington DeLorme pg 58:A2

There is a place near the base of the jetty where one may pa rk and look out over Gray's Harbor. The Jetty is about a 100m walk, 500m to the end of the jetty.

Best Birds: 2 Thick-billed Murres on a Christmas Count

Mammals: Gray Whale, Orca, Harbor Porpoise, Pinnepeds and a Sea Otter!

Comments:"...zill ions of loons, cormorants, waterfowl, gulls, shorebirds and other alcids that make it a mind-boggling experience if conditions are right! The rarities provide the oh-so-skimpy occasional dab of icing on the rich, many layered chocolate cake of the ove rall experience." -Dennis Paulsen

2. North Head Lighthouse near Ilwaco, Pacific Co., WA
Washington DeLorme pg 58:B1 (Oregon DeLorme pg 70:B1)

There is no good place to view from a car. One must walk about 400m to the light house for best viewing.

Best Birds: Pomarine Jaeger

Mammals: Gray Whales

3. Cape Disappointment and the North Jetty of the Columbia River near Ilwaco, Pacific Co. WA
Washington DeLorme pg58:B1 (Oregon DeLorme pg 70:B1 )

Handicapped parking is available within 20m of the information center/museum at Cape Disappointment, parking for able-bodied folk is at the base of the small hill below the center (counting switchbacks, about 100m). In the info center is a large window that looks out over the North Jetty making this one of the most pleasant places around for watching the ocean.

By driving through Fort Canby, one can park within about 150m of the North Jetty. A walk to the end is about 1km and not recommen ded during extreme high tides or bad weather though the walk is shorter and generally easier then walking out the South Jetty on the Oregon side of the Columbia.

Best Birds: Pink-footed Shearwater, Short-tailed Shearwater, Elegant Tern

Mammals: Gray Whale, Orca, Harbor Porpoise, Pinnepeds

Comments: "Probably one of the more under-rated seabird watching spots on the coast and most certainly the best place to build up two state lists simultaneously." -Mike Patterson

4. South Jetty of the Columbia River near Hammond, Clatsop Co., OR
Oregon DeLorme pg 70:C1 (Washington DeLorme pg 58:C1)

A viewing platform is next to the jetty within 20m of the parking lot. The jetty is about 4km long and a trip out to the end involves considerable rock hopping. Most people who try this trek give up at the 1st bend (about 1.5km).

A dune level parking lot a the wreck of the Peter Iredale about 6km south of the South Jetty gives reasonably good viewing of the ocean from a car.

Best Birds: Wilson's Storm-petrel, Least Tern, American Redstart

Mammals: Gray Whale, Orca, Harbor Porpoise, Pinnepeds

5. Seaside Cove (Ocean Vista Dr.), Seaside, Clatsop Co., OR
Oregon DeLorme pg 64:A1

Best Birds: King Eider, Northern Fulmar, Short-tailed Shearwater

Mammals: Gray Whale, Elephant Seal, other Pinnepeds

The best spot for scoping this area has been turned over to condominiums, but the parking lot north of the Lanai Motel allows pretty g ood ocean viewing from a car.

Comments: If you own a surf board, try paddling out among the 10 000 scoters that congregate in the lee of Tillamook Head.

6. Ecola State Park near Cannon Beach, Clatsop Co., OR
Oregon DeLorm e pg 64:A1

There are 2 good areas in the park

a) Ecola Point has fair from-the-car viewing. There are several spots from 50-500m from the parking lot for viewing. The end of the point is a major nesting site for Common Murres. It is estima ted the 50 000 birds nest on the rocky outcrops around Tillamook Head.
b) Indian Point is probably one of the best sites for finding Marbled Murrelet it has good car viewing access, assuming all the good spots haven't been taken by surfers. Viewing from the picnic area is just a matter of steps from the parking lot. A trail up on to Tillamook Head begins here and there are several good viewing spot up this trail.

M ammals: Gray Whale, Sperm Whale, Pinnepeds

Comments: About 5km south in Cannon Beach is Haystack Rock a principle nesting site for Tufted Puffin (about 150 pair) and a reliable year-round spot for Harlequin Ducks.

7. Cape Meares Stat e Park near Cape Meares, Tillamook Co., OR
Oregon DeLorme pg 58:A1

There are no spots to view from a car. There are several viewpoints from 50-500m from the parking lot. Obviously, the best of these is furthest from the car.

Best Birds : Sabine's Gull

Mammals: Gray Whale

8.Cape Lookout State Park near Sandlake, Tillamook Co.,OR
Oregon DeLorme pg 58:B1

It's a long walk out to the end (about 2.5m) through a beautiful forest, probably not what most of us would want to do on a stormy day in November, but some very intriguing things have been seen from here.

Best birds: Horned Puffin (5 of 8 records listed in Rare Birds of Oregon, Schmidt, 1989)

9. Boiler Bay near Depoe Bay, Li ncoln Co., OR Oregon DeLorme pg 32:B1

The most often mentioned seabird spotting site on the Oregon Coast and for good reason. It is possible to do some spotting from the car, the best plan is to take the short walk across the lawn to the fenc e.

Best Birds: Mottled Petrel, Manx Shearwater, Laysan Albatross, Horned Puffin, Xantus' Murrelet

Mammals: Gray Whale

Comments: This is a very good spot for finding alcids. It's also not a bad spot for Rock Sandpiper.

10. Cape Foulweather near Otter Rock, Lincoln Co., OR
Oregon Delorme pg 32:B1

The parking lot is placed in such a way that car viewing is obstructed, but the walk to adequate viewing is very short.

Best birds: Tufted Puffin

Mammals: Gray Whal e

11. Yaquina Head near Newport, Lincoln Co., OR
Oregon DeLorme pg 32:C1

There are several spots where viewing from the car is possible, though one may have to contend with traffic. It is best to park at the parking lot an d take the short walk to the fence.

Best birds: Buller's Shearwater, Northern Fulmar

Mammals: Gray Whale, Pinnepeds

Comments: 6km south is Yaquina Bay. The easiest access is on the south jetty side. This is one of the more consistent spots fo r finding Oldsquaw.

12. Heceta Head and Devil's Elbow near Florence, Lane Co., OR
Oregon DeLorme pg 32:C2

There are several good pullouts along hwy 101 where watching by car is possible.

Best birds: Another fairly large T ufted Puffin nesting site

Mammals: Gray Whale, Northern Sealion

Comments: The privately operated Sealion Caves is 2km south. This is one of the largest breeding sites for Northern Sealions. Rhinocerus Auklets also nest here.

13. Cape Arago near Coos Bay, Coos Co., OR
Oregon DeLorme pg 33:B5

One can scope from a car, but only from a distance. The one exception being a pullout north of the Cape. It is an easy stroll to the edge.

Best birds:Black-footed Albatross , Short-tailed Shearwater, King Eider

Mammals: Gray Whale, Pinnepeds

Comments:"I once imaged I saw a Sea Otter from here" -Mike Patterson

14. Bandon Jetty and Coquille Pt., Bandon, Coos Co., OR
Oregon DeLorme pg 33:D5

O ne can get a pretty fairly look at the ocean from the jetty or from one pullouts between there and Coquille Pt.

Best birds: 1000 Ancient Murrelets

Mammals: Gray Whale, Pinnepeds

15. Cape Blanco near Port Orford, Curry Co.,OR
Oregon DeLorme pg 24 B4

The US Coast Guard still uses Cape Blanco making a watch from the point difficult unless one joins the Coast Guard and manages to get stationed there. The State Park provides fair viewing to the south.

16. Pigeon Point near Pescadero, San Mateo Co., CA

Best birds: Ashy Storm-petrel, Black-vented Shearwater, Ancient Murrelet

Mammals: Gray Whale, Humpbacked Whale

It is possible to scope from the car, but better views are possible with a sh ort (10m) walk.

17. Pacific Grove, Monterey Co., CA

You can watch the ocean easily from your car.

Mammals: Gray Whale, Blue Whale

Tips & Techniques

1. Your primary goal should be t o keep your optics dry. This is part of the reason for the emphasis on birding from the car. Carry a cotton handkercheif for drying lenses. If your scope is a non-sealed type, be careful to avoid leakage through connections. Don't be afraid to use plast ic bags and duct tape to seal joints. If the inside of your scope fogs up, you're done for the day. Figure 1 shows the Contreras Rain Shield (patent pending), a devise which has proven reasonably efficient at pro tecting the objective lens from rain. The Big Umbrella Clamp (figure 2) is still undergoing field trials, but the inventor has high hopes for the devise on calm to moderately inclement days.

2. So, let's talk ab out scopes. The serious seawatcher will find ordinary field binoculars frustrating. A spotting scope is very necessary. If you have the money, buy a sealed scope filled with inert gas ($700+). A good, sturdy spotting scope (unsealed) can be purchased for about $250.00 and will serve well. Generally speaking, if the scope looks small and delicate, it won't last. A good review of spotting scopes can be found at the re c.birds Monthly Optics for Birding FAQ. I recommend a single power 20x or 25x eye piece lens. Telephoto lens typically have poorer resolution and more moving parts to screw up.

3. And tripods? You get what you pay for. The heavier the tripod, the better the performance in the wind. Avoid cheap video camera tripods.

4. It is unlikely that you will have the opportunity to get descent photos of the birds you see (though sometimes you might get lucky). Be prepared to take notes. There are some nice waterproof notebooks on the market these days. Carry one with you.

References

Evanich, Joseph. 1990. The Birder's Guide to Oregon. Portland Audubon Society, Portland

Grant, P.J. 1986. Gulls: a guide to identification (2nd ed.). Buteo Books, Vermillion ND

Harrison, Peter. 1983. Seabirds: an identification guide. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston

Harrison, Peter. 1987. A Field Guide to Seabirds of the World. Stephen Greene Press, Lexington MA

Wahl, Terence & Dennis Paulson. 1991. A Guide to Bird Finding in Washington. Wahl Publishing, Bellingham WA

Friends

I was helped by the following people who w ere kind enough to respond to my survey on favorite spots:

Dave Bailey
Alan Contreras
MerryLynn Denny
Greg Gillson
Charity L Hagen
Alvaro Jaramillo
Dennis Paulson
Peggi Rodgers