SAS Ankeny NWR Field Trip Report
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SAS ANKENY NWR FIELD TRIP SUMMARY
For today’s Salem Audubon birding field trip at Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, Tim and I were joined by12 fellow birders. We spent approximately two and a half hours exploring the refuge, braving chilly conditions with temperatures hovering between 39 and 40 degrees and winds ranging from 3 to 7 mph. The sky was mostly overcast, occasionally breaking to reveal patches of sunlight. Our group made four stops at key locations within the refuge: Ankeny Hill Nature Center, Eagle Marsh, Pintail Marsh, and the Pintail-Egret Marsh Boardwalk. Together, we identified 50 bird species by sight or sound—an impressive increase compared to the 38 species recorded on last year’s trip.
Site summaries:
Ankeny Hill Nature Center
We began our day at the Ankeny Hill Nature Center, where Bobbie provided a concise and informative overview of geese identification inside Gehlar Hall, part of the center’s educational program. The nature center was lively, with 14 bird species observed, mostly common residents. In the adjacent field to the west, we counted 155 Cackling Geese, along with several flyovers. Near the parking lot, a Western Bluebird was heard, while an American Kestrel perched in a tree west of the center. We also spotted a Yellow-rumped Warbler and Anna’s Hummingbird close to the center. The center itself is a key part of the Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, offering indoor and outdoor classrooms, trails, and excellent birding opportunities in a habitat rich with wildlife along the Pacific Flyway.
Eagle Marsh
At Eagle Marsh, we observed 16 bird species during our visit. The marsh featured eight Tundra Swans and a diverse group of eight duck species, including Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Gadwall, and Bufflehead. Our raptor sightings included two Northern Harriers patrolling the area, four Bald Eagles, and a Red-tailed Hawk. Near the kiosk, we spotted a Black Phoebe, adding to the marsh’s vibrant birdlife. Eagle Marsh, located on the south side of Buena Vista Road within Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge, offers year-round viewing opportunities with trails and a kiosk that facilitate excellent wildlife observation of this important wetland habitat.
Pintail Marsh
Pintail Marsh was quieter compared to Eagle Marsh, with most bird activity concentrated around the edges of the marsh and the parking lot. The east side of the parking lot was particularly lively, where we observed Fox Sparrow and Lincoln’s Sparrow alongside White-crowned Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, and an American Goldfinch. A fellow birder, just leaving the area, had recently spotted and heard a Swamp Sparrow nearby. At the marsh’s outer edges, four Bald Eagles perched watchfully while 17 Great Egrets flew overhead. A vocal Marsh Wren was present along the marsh edge, and five duck species were seen, including a female Hooded Merganser. Pintail Marsh, accessible from the north side of Wintel Road, features boardwalk trails and overlooks that provide excellent opportunities to observe diverse waterfowl and riparian birds throughout the year.
Pintail Boardwalk
The Pintail-Egret Marsh Boardwalk offered an intriguing experience. On our walk out to the kiosk, we heard only a Belted Kingfisher and plenty of Cackling Geese. However, the return trip turned into a birding bonanza. Many of us first heard a Hermit Thrush, followed by sightings of two individuals. This was soon followed by a lively burst of activity featuring Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a Golden-crowned Kinglet, a flock of Bushtits, a Bewick’s Wren, Black Phoebe, Downy Woodpecker, and Song Sparrow all making their presence known. We enjoyed close-up views of a Downy Woodpecker busily foraging on a tree and a Bewick’s Wren moving through the understory. The boardwalk is part of the refuge trail system and provides access to vital wetland habitats that attract a diverse array of songbirds and waterfowl, especially during migration seasons. Links to today's eBird checklists and a Trip Report follows.
Our next SAS bird walk will be at Willow Lake WWTP in Keizer on Monday, November 24th at 9:00 AM. Meet in the parking lot.
Minto-Brown Island Park bird walk on Wednesday, December 17th at 8:00 AM. Meet at Parking Lot #3 at the end of Minto Island Road. This is the main lead up to the Salem Area Christmas Bird Count.
Please join us if you can.
Mike Unger
Keizer, OR
Ankeny NWR eBird Checklists for November 19, 2025
Number of Species: 50
eBird checklists:
Ankeny Hill Nature Center: https://ebird.org/checklist/S285194651
Eagle Marsh: https://ebird.org/checklist/S285198904
Pintail Marsh: https://ebird.org/checklist/S285203849
Pintail-Egret Marsh Boardwalk: https://ebird.org/checklist/S285208649
eBird Trip Report: https://ebird.org/tripreport/434009