D River Open Space

While driving around yesterday, I discovered that the D River Open Space is a much larger area than I had thought.  I stopped in the small turnaround area east of Highway 101 and walked around looking for birds.  What I found was another larger parking area across a narrow wooden bridge. 

I didn't have time to stay, so today I returned with camera and binoculars to see what I could see.   

Canada Geese with Goslings

Parking in the gravel beyond the bridge, I immediately spotted a pair of CANADA GEESE herding their goslings into the river.

Canada Geese with Goslings

Another goose approached them, earning a warning hiss from the male.

Mallard Pair

A pair of MALLARDS rested on a log near the bridge.  I wondered if the female was actually nesting on the log?  She never moved, while the male was watchful and vigilantly prowling close by.

Wooden Bridge providing access to the area

Orange-Crowned Warbler

Movement caught my eye, and I could see that the shrubs behind the mallards were alive with birds -- through the binoculars, I could see at least 8 to 10 ORANGE CROWNED WARBLERS flitting from branch to branch. 

Continuing to investigate the area, I found an opening in the fence on the north side of the parking area that lead to a long boardwalk.

Boardwalk Looking North

Looking East

Looking West

I did more looking than photographing, and tallied 18 different species of birds, including CASPIAN TERNS overhead, BLACK CAPPED and CHESTNUT BACKED CHICKADEES in the trees, and a WILSON'S WARBLER singing in the brush. 

Black-Capped Chickadee

The boardwalk twists around between shrubs, grasses and trees.  Signs along the path have information on the wetlands and the building of the incredible walking path. 

The shrubs next to the boardwalk were full of warblers, I counted 20+ ORANGE CROWNED, 2 WILSON'S, and 3 YELLOW RUMPED WARBLERS.






Past the shrubs, the boardwalk passes over a small bridge and trees take over the landscape.

Here a small stream full of skunk cabbage and other vegetation runs next to the walk.








The north end of the boardwalk ends in the Devil's Lake camping area.  The camping area is currently closed, probably because most of the sites are under water.  AMERICAN ROBINS washed in the puddles and fussed from the branches.  A pair of ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS zipped around in the brush.

Song Sparrow

Turning back, I re-crossed the bridge, where SONG SPARROWS ran back and forth.

Boardwalk Looking South

D River Open Space is another beautiful Lincoln City secret.  There's plenty of parking, and the boardwalk will keep your feet dry.  An easy stroll, not too far from end-to-end.  Another treasure we'll plan to visit again and again.