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USFWS
Oregon United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge
9/19/2024 Drove south to the Ankeny NWR where we parked and walked a short trail to a boardwalk, which was the start of
the Ankeny Rail Trail NRT. This boardwalk trail takes one through a seasonally flooded
Oregon ash wetland where various wildlife species can be seen and heard year-round. It was enjoyable taking this walk in the morning air, and
although in the dense brush and trees we didn’t see much wildlife, Ken did pull out a cool phone app that recorded and identified a number of birds - very impressive.
The park sign ...
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Trail directions ...
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... and useful info
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The start of the boardwalk
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Me getting low ...
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... for a good boardwalk shot
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A good 360 of the area
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Ken's app captures ...
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... some birds
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Ken and me
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Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge
9/22/2013 Headed back for a drive through Baskett Slough NWR. Really didn't see much of
anything here - it looked more like farm fields.
The park sign
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One uninspiring view ...
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... and another
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Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge
9/24/2025 Right as we were planning to stop at our arbitrary spot for photos of the Klamath Marsh NWR, we saw signs that we should
expect up to 20-minute delays, and sure enough we came to a stop in a short lines of vehicles. We got out and at least had plenty of time for photos of the
NWR. Established in 1958 as an inviolate sanctuary for migratory birds, the 40,000 acre site provides important nesting, feeding, and resting habitat
for waterfowl. We opened the hatch of the car and stood in its shadow - very hot sun but quite comfortable in the shade. Finally, after what was a half
hour, we got rolling, passing the road construction that was the issue.
The refuge sign
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Waiting for construction, Ken takes ...
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... a panorama of the marsh
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Another view of the marsh ...
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... and mountains
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Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge
9/18/2024 ... headed right for Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock (in the Oregon Islands NWR). This was a must-see feature for Ken,
and although we had issues finding parking, and had to walk down a steep drop including some stairs to the beach, the payoff was well worth it. The
huge rock mound loomed high over shore, along with some smaller features off to the side. Waves were breaking all around, sometimes sending white
water high in the area. Again, the beautiful ocean, sounds of the surf, and salt mist hanging in the distance made for a perfect place to hang for a bit.
Views from the road ...
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... make the Rock look huge
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Me in a nice panorama
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The full formation ...
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... and just the Needles
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Wave crashing on the rocks
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Little guy checking out the sights
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Me taking ...
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... my own panorama
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One last selfie
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9/25/2025
Devil’s Punchbowl State Natural Area
Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge
9/22/2013 ... I continued north to Tualatin River NWR. This is a nicer place, with a
VC and exhibits. I took a short hike down to the river and back, but still didn't see much wildlife.
The park sign
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Looking from the VC ...
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... at a nest
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Down by the river
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Looking back at the VC
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