I have been studying the wildlife of the Pacific  Northwest for 31 years.  I recognize by sight,  song or call most of the birds, butterflies and plants likely to be encountered along the north coast of Oregon and south coast of Washington. I can offer tailored eco-experiences based on  client interests and needs.  If you are interested  in Oregon Coast bird specialities, photographing Coast Range wildflowers or having an interpretive guide to regional ecology, write or e-mail with your "hit-list" and I can provide an estimate. celata@pacifier.com

Saddle Mountain Wildflowers
Saddle Mountain is the second highest peak in the Oregon Coast Range.  As such it retains a remnant botany
associated with the Cascade Range, isolated since the last ice age.  Saddle Mountain has a volcanic past and an
interesting geology.  Though not actually a volcano, it is composed of lava that flowed from a volcano during
eruptions a million years ago.  Trips between May 1 and July 30 can be arranged focusing on close-up
photography of Coast Range Wildflowers.  See Photo guide to plants of Saddle Mountain for examples.
 
 
 
 

Seabirds from land
If you're like me, spending a day on a rocking and swaying boat looking for pelagic species can be, to say
the least, an uncomfortable experience.  Many of these pelagic species can be seen from land with the appropriate
equipment and an understanding of timing, tide and weather.  Trips to seawatching "hotspots" can be arranged
in the fall between August 15 and October 31.  See Seawatches and Seabirds from land for examples.
 
 
 
 

Shorebirds
The Columbia River Estuary and Willapa Bay are important migratory stopovers for shorebirds.  Each spring
from late April through May and each fall from July through September hundreds of thousands of shorebird
stop to fatten up on estuarine invertebrates.  Trips to Tokeland and Leadbetter Point NWR in Washington and
the South Jetty of the Columbia River and the Necanicum Estuary in Oregon provide an opportunity to see
many of the 50 or so species that have been recorded in the region.  See Shorebird Photo Guide and Shorebirds
on the North Coast of Oregon for examples.
 
 
 
 

The five most requested birds on the Oregon Coast
I am regularly asked where to find species that are regional specialities.  Many of them don't occur within 200
miles of the Oregon Coast (Spruce Grouse, White-headed Woodpecker), but of all the birds I am asked about,
these are 5 that can be found (with varying degrees of effort) within 30 miles of the Oregon Coast centered at
Astoria, Oregon.

Tufted Puffin- a colony of about 150 pair nest on Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach, OR from March 5 to
about August 15.

Mountain Quail- This is a tough one, not so much because it's uncommon, but because Mt Quail are sneaky.
Any deserted logging road in the Coast Range will eventually yield a Mt Quail.  They are marginally easier to
find in July and August (when young hatchlings are out) early in the morning.

Red-breasted Sapsucker- Another tricky one... a pair have nested in the churchyard at Mayger off of
Hwy 30 in Oregon.  A pair haunts the memorial orchard at the Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area Headquarters.
They are seen yearly Gnat Creek Rd in Brownsmead, OR.

Wrentit- The range for this species stops at the Columbia River.  Wrentits are not strong enough fliers to cross
the 3.5 mile estuary.  The northernmost population can therefore be found at the Fort Stevens Historical Area.
They are also easily found at the Fort Steven Park campground and at Coffenbury Lake.

Hermit Warbler- Hermit Warblers are very near the northern edge of their breeding range in the Coast
Range of Oregon and Washington.  They are easily found from May through July at Saddle Mountain State
Park and Bradley Wayside in Oregon.  During fall migration flocks can be found on calm mornings at
Coxcomb Hill in Astoria, late August to early September.

Trips to the Interior
With at least two weeks of lead time I can arrange day trips to the Oregon Cascades in June or July.  These would
largley focus on Cascade butterflies or woodpecker specialities including White-headed Woodpecker, Three-toed
Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, Red-napped Sapsucker and Williamson's Sapsucker.