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 ...

Trail directions ...

... and useful info

The start of the boardwalk

Me getting low ...

... for a good boardwalk shot

A good 360 of the area

Ken's app captures ...

... some birds

Ken and me

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

One uninspiring view ...

... and another

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 ...

... make the Rock look huge

Me in a nice panorama

The full formation ...

... and just the Needles

Wave crashing on the rocks

Little guy checking out the sights

Me taking ...

... my own panorama

One last selfie

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

Looking from the VC ...

... at a nest

Down by the river

Looking back at the VC