SAS Baskett Slough NWR Field Trip Report
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Baskett Slough NWR Field Trip Report – March 11, 2026
There were about 20 of us on the Salem Audubon field trip at Baskett Slough Refuge today. A bit of drizzle did not stop us or bother the birds. We saw over 40 species, many migrants enroute north: Greater White-fronted Geese, several species of ducks, Dunlin, Least Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs. Some lingering coots and Cackling Geese were about. Recent returnees included Common Yellowthroat, Turkey Vulture, and three swallow species. We got treated to some fine bird song: robin, Western Meadowlark, Red-winged Blackbird, yellowthroat. We also heard chorus frogs calling. The swallows were certainly being treated well-there were numerous tornadoes of swirling midges. Yum.
We did our morning birding along Coville Road and at Cackler Marsh. The Narrows was
especially lively.
Harry Fuller
Note: You can see Harry’s photos in the checklist. See link below.
Baskett Slough NWR, Polk, Oregon, US
Apr 11, 2026, 8:45 AM - 11:45 AM
43 species
Greater White-fronted Goose 55
Cackling Goose 600
Canada Goose X
Northern Shoveler X
Gadwall 200
American Wigeon X
Mallard X
Northern Pintail X
Green-winged Teal X
Lesser Scaup X
Bufflehead X
Ruddy Duck X
Mourning Dove 1
American Coot 400
Black-necked Stilt 7 at edge of open water on shoire or islands, flying about in pairs
Killdeer X
Greater Yellowlegs 3
Dunlin 1
Least Sandpiper 4
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Green Heron 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 1
Northern Harrier 1
Bald Eagle 1 first year bird, at The Narrows
Red-tailed Hawk 2
American Kestrel 3
California Scrub-Jay 1
American Crow 2
Tree Swallow 50
Violet-green Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 40
European Starling X
American Robin 3
White-crowned Sparrow 2
Golden-crowned Sparrow X
Savannah Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 6
Spotted Towhee 1
Western Meadowlark X many singing
Red-winged Blackbird X many singing, females were present
Common Yellowthroat 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 4
eBird Checklist Link: https://ebird.org/checklist/S320272256