Sixes & Cape Blanco
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Checklists
Location
From central Port Orford at Highway 101 and 9th Street travel north on Highway 101 4.3 miles. Turn left (west) onto Cape Blanco Road and travel 3.2 miles to Beaver Marsh. In another 0.8 miles take a right turn which in 0.3 miles leads to the Historic Hughes House. Here you will find a trail that leads to the Sixes River (0.5 miles). Please close any gate that you go through on this trail. Continue on Cape Blanco Road 1.4 miles to the end of the cape. You can scan the ocean from this location. Warning: Parts of Cape Blanco Road have restricted usage or private roads. Parts of the road are closed between 3:00 pm and 10:00 am (Google maps, September2022).
ebird hotspot for Cape Blanco State Park: http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspot/L629009
DirectionsHabitat and Birds
This is another of the famous estuaries in Curry County. The river mouth can provide Swamp Sparrow, Loggerhead Shrike, raptors, and gulls. The bluff at the cape gives good views of ocean birds like loons and sea ducks. The marsh is good for Red-shouldered Hawk, White-tailed Kite, Marsh Wren, Virginia Rail, and Sora as well as many more. Buff-breasted Sandpiper and other good shorebirds can be found here. A White-winged Dove was found here in 2006 & 2007 and a Common Ground-Dove showed up in 2006. A Least Flycatcher was found here in 1985 and another in 1999. Tropical Kingbird has been spotted many times and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher has been found here at least three times. A Black-backed Wagtail showed up in 1996 and a Red-throated Pipit was here in 2004. A Chestnut-sided Warbler was mist netted near here in 1995 and a Black-throated Green Warbler was reported seen in 1982. Blackpoll Warbler has been found here several times and a Prairie Warbler showed up in 1994. Two female Lark Buntings visited Cape Blanco in 1979 and a male was there in 1994. Chestnut-collared Longspur, Indigo Bunting, and Dickcissel have all shown up at Cape Blanco. Clearly, this is a must see location.
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