Erickson Dike Road

This road runs atop dikes along side sloughs of the Columbia River, with views of the main channel in places. Watch for wintering flocks of Lesser and Greater Scaup, gulls, and cormorants on the deeper water, and Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser in more marshy sections. Raptors hunt the open farmland. Migrant shorebirds such as Greater Yellowlegs use tidal mudflats and slough edges. Check tall cottonwoods along river for nesting Great Horned Owl. Red-eyed Vireo have occasionally been heard singing during June, from the hybrid poplar plantations in the dikelands. From US Hwy 30 in Clatskanie, go N 0.1 mi on Nehalem Ave, then L on 5th St, which becomes Beaver Falls Rd. After 0.5 mi turn L on Depot St, then L again within 0.1 mi on Clatskanie District Rd. After 0.3 mi this road forks; turn L onto Erickson Dike Rd. This road winds for 6 mi along side sloughs of the Columbia River (pavement ends after 2 mi). After birding the NE (dead-end) section of the road, return to Clatskanie by the same route. A loop by way of Collins Rd #1 and Hermo Rd back to Beaver Falls Rd at the Quincy Store is possible, but those roads are in very poor condition and offer little birding interest. GPS: 46 08.789 N, 123 13.414 W.