COVID-19 NOTICE: Tillamook County
Masks Required Statewide
Masks, are currently required statewide for indoor public spaces. In addition, face coverings are required in outdoor public spaces when physical distancing is not possible. Children age 5 and up are required to wear a mask, face shield or face covering. Many birding sites are popular recreation areas and have seen an influx of visitors. Please comply with the rules. Respect and protect yourself and others, who may be more vulnerable.
Masks Required Statewide
Masks, are currently required statewide for indoor public spaces. In addition, face coverings are required in outdoor public spaces when physical distancing is not possible. Children age 5 and up are required to wear a mask, face shield or face covering. Many birding sites are popular recreation areas and have seen an influx of visitors. Please comply with the rules. Respect and protect yourself and others, who may be more vulnerable.
Last Update: May, 2021
We encourage you to check back regularly. If you have comments, contributions, sightings, suggestions or if you notice anything that needs fixing, please let us know! We are here for you.
We encourage you to check back regularly. If you have comments, contributions, sightings, suggestions or if you notice anything that needs fixing, please let us know! We are here for you.
Breeding Plumages Abound
One of the wonderful treats this time of year is seeing many birds in their breeding plumages. Even some birds that aren't regular breeders here, have hung around long enough to give us glimpses of the spectacular plumages we usually associate with "up North" (as in Canada or Alaska). In the last couple of weeks we've seen nice examples of Eared Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, and Common Loon showing off their fancy feathers.
One of the wonderful treats this time of year is seeing many birds in their breeding plumages. Even some birds that aren't regular breeders here, have hung around long enough to give us glimpses of the spectacular plumages we usually associate with "up North" (as in Canada or Alaska). In the last couple of weeks we've seen nice examples of Eared Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, and Common Loon showing off their fancy feathers.
Eared Grebes. Photo: Michael Krall
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Common Loon. Photo: Michael Krall
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Red-necked Grebe. Photo: Michael Krall
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Lesser is More!
Another new Tillamook County bird- a Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis) was sighted April 6th by Annika Andersson and seen by a few other lucky and alert birders at Goose Point just south of Bay City. Good photos were obtained. Any Nighthawk is very unexpected here in spring, whereas Common Nighthawks are, well, common in the summer. Lesser Nighthawks winter in Baja and elsewhere in Mexico. In summer they are expected in the Central Valley of California and elsewhere in the Southwest. Unfortunately this bird apparently didn’t stick around more than one day. Congratulations to those who saw it.
Ah, Spring!
Happily, the days are (mostly) getting warmer and we’re beginning to see some spring migrants. Rufous Hummingbirds are back, as are Turkey Vultures and Osprey. Many of the winter birds have left including Ruff-legged Hawks. There is a lot of mating activity in evidence. Bald eagles are on the nest across the estuary near the oyster hatchery on Netarts Bay.
Another new Tillamook County bird- a Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis) was sighted April 6th by Annika Andersson and seen by a few other lucky and alert birders at Goose Point just south of Bay City. Good photos were obtained. Any Nighthawk is very unexpected here in spring, whereas Common Nighthawks are, well, common in the summer. Lesser Nighthawks winter in Baja and elsewhere in Mexico. In summer they are expected in the Central Valley of California and elsewhere in the Southwest. Unfortunately this bird apparently didn’t stick around more than one day. Congratulations to those who saw it.
Ah, Spring!
Happily, the days are (mostly) getting warmer and we’re beginning to see some spring migrants. Rufous Hummingbirds are back, as are Turkey Vultures and Osprey. Many of the winter birds have left including Ruff-legged Hawks. There is a lot of mating activity in evidence. Bald eagles are on the nest across the estuary near the oyster hatchery on Netarts Bay.
Bald Eagle nest along Netarts Bay. Look down the tallest tree about thirty feet.
Photo: Michael Krall
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Adult and Fledgling Bald Eagle from 2020 season. Photo: Michael Krall
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Grebes and Loons!
Many winter birds are still around. Several species of loons and grebes are in evidence around the county, often coming close for good looks. If you are lucky, you may hear the distinctive plaintive call of the Common Loon, more common when they are breeding further north. Look for Common Loons, Pacific Loons, and Red-throated Loons. Grebes include Pied, Horned, Eared (less common), Red-necked, Western and Clark's. Clark's are like Western except look for a more orange (as opposed to yellow) bill, and the eye entirely within the white of the face, on the Clark's (see comparison below).
Many winter birds are still around. Several species of loons and grebes are in evidence around the county, often coming close for good looks. If you are lucky, you may hear the distinctive plaintive call of the Common Loon, more common when they are breeding further north. Look for Common Loons, Pacific Loons, and Red-throated Loons. Grebes include Pied, Horned, Eared (less common), Red-necked, Western and Clark's. Clark's are like Western except look for a more orange (as opposed to yellow) bill, and the eye entirely within the white of the face, on the Clark's (see comparison below).
Western Grebes. Photo: Michael Krall
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Clark's Grebe. Photo: Michael Krall
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Purple Martins
Purple Martins have nested in the Tsunami warning tower at the Netarts Bay boat ramp for a number of years. In 2020 the tower was removed, but a group of birders put up nesting boxes in the same location. It wasn't clear if they'd be located or adopted. Well they were located- first by House Sparrows, then by Purple Martins. The Martins appeared to evict the Sparrows. While there was much activity noted, with birds entering and exiting boxes, sometimes with nesting material. One time only did we observe the carrying of food, and sounds of begging. So, we're not sure if there was a successful nesting season or not. Below are a couple of photos of the activity. We are looking forward to seeing successful nesting in 2021.
Purple Martins have nested in the Tsunami warning tower at the Netarts Bay boat ramp for a number of years. In 2020 the tower was removed, but a group of birders put up nesting boxes in the same location. It wasn't clear if they'd be located or adopted. Well they were located- first by House Sparrows, then by Purple Martins. The Martins appeared to evict the Sparrows. While there was much activity noted, with birds entering and exiting boxes, sometimes with nesting material. One time only did we observe the carrying of food, and sounds of begging. So, we're not sure if there was a successful nesting season or not. Below are a couple of photos of the activity. We are looking forward to seeing successful nesting in 2021.
Purple Martin's claiming nesting box and fending off House Sparrow. Photo: Michael Krall
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Purple Martins at nesting box. Photo: Michael Krall
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Hiking the Tillamook Spits
In December 2015, Portland Monthly had a feature article on hiking Netarts and Bayocean Spits. Bayocean is popular among birders, but Netarts spit is less frequently birded. Read what writer Adam Sawyer had to say about them both.
A picture is worth...
Jack Booth has been absent for a while, but missed. Here are a few samples of his wonderful photos. Be sure to look at his photo gallery.
In December 2015, Portland Monthly had a feature article on hiking Netarts and Bayocean Spits. Bayocean is popular among birders, but Netarts spit is less frequently birded. Read what writer Adam Sawyer had to say about them both.
A picture is worth...
Jack Booth has been absent for a while, but missed. Here are a few samples of his wonderful photos. Be sure to look at his photo gallery.
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Clay-colored Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow, Nielsen Rd, 29 Nov 2015 Photo: Jack Booth
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Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Tillamook Bay Wetlands, 28 Nov 2015 Photo Jack Booth
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Cattle Egret
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Swamp Sparrow
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Cattle Egret, Hwy 101 s of Tillamook city, 26 Nov 2015 Photo: Jack Booth
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Swamp Sparrow, Tillamook Bay Wetlands, 23 Nov 2015 Photo: Jack Booth
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Protecting Bayocean Spit
Dickcissel, Bayocean Spit, 21 Nov 2015 Photo: Jack Booth
Updated 7/12/2020
Tillamook County held a public hearing November 12, 2015 to discuss the future of Bayocean Spit.
Marg Tweelinckx gave the photos of the DICKCISSEL and NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD provided by Nels Nelson and talked about birding at Bayocean Spit and how it has influenced her.
The Tillamook County Department of Community Development accepted the photos and many people there were interested in the birding.
In a 5-2 vote the Planning Commission voted to change the zoning from Recreation Management (RM) to Recreation Natural (RN), which aims to "... designate and preserve areas that contain significant natural and/or scenic values."
The Tillamook Planning Commission Report may be accessed here.
Additional Bayocean information:
Oregon Coast Alliance
Tillamook County held a public hearing November 12, 2015 to discuss the future of Bayocean Spit.
Marg Tweelinckx gave the photos of the DICKCISSEL and NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD provided by Nels Nelson and talked about birding at Bayocean Spit and how it has influenced her.
The Tillamook County Department of Community Development accepted the photos and many people there were interested in the birding.
In a 5-2 vote the Planning Commission voted to change the zoning from Recreation Management (RM) to Recreation Natural (RN), which aims to "... designate and preserve areas that contain significant natural and/or scenic values."
The Tillamook Planning Commission Report may be accessed here.
Additional Bayocean information:
Oregon Coast Alliance
Bonaparte's Gull, Nov 2014 Photo: Jack Booth
Do you have photos, notes or field reports you'd like to share, or suggestions about the website? Let us know!
eBird "Hotspot Explorer"
We've added links to eBird's new "Hotspot Explorer" for each of our featured birding locations on our Where to Bird pages. These links take you to a new eBird feature that includes recent sightings, top listers, bar charts and more. They have also added an interface for counties, so here's a link to Tillamook County. More information...
Black Turnstone, Nov 2014 Photo: Jack Booth
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Oregon Birding Sites Guide (new links)
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Red-breaster Sapsucker, Nov 2014 Photo: Jack Booth
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What is Tillamook Birder?
Tillamook County is located on the north Oregon coast, between Lincoln county, to the south, and Clatsop, to the north. Its coastline offers rocky ocean beaches, majestic Capes, and numerous bays. Moving inland, fertile fields and wetlands give way to lush forested mountains as you move further east. On our website, we plan to provide up to date reports of birding activity and conditions, information about local birding events, and much more. Visit often, we plan to keep updating and revising to best meet your needs. Special thanks to Tim Blount, Jack Booth and Ken Chamberlain for their input, advice, and fantastic photos.