SAS Ankeny NWR Field Trip Report

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Jun 16, 2026, 9:06:15 PM (2 days ago) Jun 16
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SAS ANKENY NWR FIELD TRIP SUMMARY

June 16, 2026 

Today, Tim and I led our Salem Audubon monthly birding field trip to Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge. We were joined by 19 other birders, including a family with several young birders. It was a lovely morning with clear skies, temperatures between 66°F and 75°F, and light winds of 5–9 mph. 

We made two stops around the refuge: Ankeny Hill Nature Center and Eagle Marsh. Across both locations, we observed (saw or heard) 43 bird species. That is up from 39 species in June 2024 but slightly down from 46 species last June.

Observations at Ankeny Hill Nature Center

During our visit to the Ankeny Hill Nature Center, we observed a total of 12 bird species. A highlight was spotting a Western Bluebird using a nestbox just below the center. We did not notice any other unusual observations at the center. For a complete list of all species observed during the trip, please refer to the eBird checklist linked at the end of this report.

Eagle Marsh Birding Highlights

During our visit to Eagle Marsh, we recorded an impressive 39 bird species as we looped around the west and south sides before returning to the parking lot. We ventured out as far as Teal and Willow Marshes, but there was little activity due to the lack of water and dense plant material covering the marshes. The early morning was filled with birdsong: American Robin, Black-headed Grosbeak, Swainson's Thrush, Song Sparrow, Marsh Wren, Western Warbling Vireo, and several warbler species were all singing actively throughout our walk.

Notable Sightings

  • Raptors: We observed only two raptor species: the Bald Eagle and the American Kestrel. Surprisingly, we did not see a Red-tailed Hawk or a Turkey Vulture.
  • Woodpeckers: We spotted only two woodpecker species: the Downy Woodpecker and the Northern Flicker. Many in the group got good looks at a male Downy Woodpecker.
  • Flycatchers: The first flycatchers to catch our eye were a pair of Black Phoebes on the west side of the marsh. One of the phoebes perched on a metal pole, sallying back and forth to catch insects. Western Wood-Pewees were very vocal throughout the walk, and we also heard a Willow Flycatcher.
  • Wrens and Warblers: There were a few Marsh and Bewick's Wrens around the marsh. But the warblers especially caught our attention with their constant singing, particularly the Northern Yellow Warbler and the Common Yellowthroat. We also heard a Wilson's Warbler and spotted a male Common Yellowthroat before it quickly disappeared into the willows.

Abundant Species

Five species reached double-digit counts in individual observations, reflecting the rich bird life along the trail this morning. The Mallard was the top species with 31 individuals. Other double-digit species included the American Robin (22), Swainson's Thrush (18), Western Wood-Pewee (14), and Song Sparrow (13).

For a detailed checklist of all species observed, please refer to the eBird checklist link at the end of this report.

Species Highlights

  • Green Heron: A Green Heron was seen on Eagle Marsh and then flew by us later on the walk.
  • American Bittern: We observed an American Bittern when it gave its signature “oong-KA-chunk” call next to Willow Marsh.  We never got to see the bittern.
  • Bushtit: A family of Bushtits were seen on the west side of the trail along Eagle Marsh. 

A link to our eBird checklists and Trip Report follows.  

Our next bird walks are as follows: 

Baskett Slough NWR – Friday, June 20, 2026, at 9:00 AM.  Meet at the Rich Guadagno Trailhead Parking Lot on Coville Road. 

Illahe Hills Country Club - Monday, June 22, 2026, at 8:00 AM. Park in the main parking area, not in front of the clubhouse!  Please contact the leader at paule...@gmail.com to confirm your registration for this trip. 

Keizer Rapids Park – Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 9:00 AM.  Meet in the last parking lot near the boat ramp.

Please join us if you can.

Mike Unger

Keizer, OR 

Ankeny NWR Checklist Summary for June 16, 2026

Number of Species: 43 

Checklists included in this summary:
(1): Ankeny NWR--Ankeny Hill Nature Center @ 7:32 AM
(2): Ankeny NWR – Eagle Marsh @ 8:04 AM

Follow these links for the eBird lists: 

 (1) https://ebird.org/checklist/S358285736 

 (2) https://ebird.org/checklist/S358350798 

Here is the link for the Trip Report:  https://ebird.org/tripreport/539837

 

                                                                                                                                

 

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