There are many reasons to look forward to the spring at Cannon Beach, but one of our favorite things is seeing the Tufted Puffins in Oregon return after a long winter flying on the open seas. A popular destination for nesting and raising their chicks is Cannon Beach’s Haystack Rock—a 235-foot sea stack—making it one of the Northwest’s most accessible locations to observe these birds in their natural habitat.
Recognizable by their breeding plumage—white faces, thick orange bills, and yellow eyebrow tufts—puffins are most visible and active from April through early July. During this period, the Haystack Rock Awareness Program offers interpretive programs during daytime low tides, providing equipment for public use and trained volunteers to assist visitors in spotting and learning about puffins in Oregon!
Other fantastic birdwatching opportunities on the Oregon Coast include large numbers of Northern Pintail, Surf Scoter, Bufflehead, and Brown Pelicans. First, you’ll want to secure your lodging, and our luxurious bed and breakfast on the Oregon Coast is one of the best places for nature lovers to stay. Just a few minutes walk, and you’ll be on the sweeping coastline, a much quieter stretch than Cannon Beach. Check our availability and book your room today!
Puffins in Oregon: More Birdwatching on the Oregon Coast
Birdwatching on the Oregon Coast is among the most rewarding and relaxing activities: the crashing waves of the ocean, a crisp saltwater breeze, and the impressive expanse of the horizon in front of you. The Tufted Puffins in Oregon are always a highlight of the birding season on the coast.
The Tufted Puffin is an iconic seabird found at Haystack Rock and along the west coast from California to Alaska. However, the populations of Tufted Puffins have dramatically decreased at Haystack Rock and globally. This makes the current season particularly important for bird and nature lovers everywhere.
Here are the best places for birdwatching on the Oregon Coast:
- Haystack Rock: This iconic structure in Cannon Beach is not only home to the beloved Tufted Puffins in Oregon but so many varieties of beautiful shore birds, like Pelagic Cormorants, Pigeon Guillemots, and Western Gulls.
- Ecola State Park: There are plenty of fantastic nesting areas for a variety of shore, rock, and forest birds. This state park is also one of the Oregon Coast’s best places for whale watching.
- Les Shirley Park: This park in Cannon Beach, with its restored creek and estuary, offers an educational spot to learn more about the birds of the Oregon Coast.
- Chapman Point: The Bird Rocks at Chapman Point are a popular destination for viewing coastal wildlife. Here, approximately 28,000 Common Murres nest each year. Birding enthusiasts have also reported many sightings of Brandt’s Cormorants.
- Little Pompey Wetland: Head along the Cannon Beach Nature Trail to this restored wetlands for sightings of Green Herons and Pileated Woodpeckers.
More About the Haystack Awareness Program:
This program was established in 1985 as a City of Cannon Beach initiative dedicated to protecting and educating the public about the intertidal and bird ecology of the Marine Garden and Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge at Haystack Rock. Operating from February through October, the Haystack Awareness Program’s staff and volunteers, known as Rocky Shore Interpreters, are present on the beach during daytime low tides to offer educational insights to visitors to chat about the Tufted Puffins in Oregon and more!
The Best Bed and Breakfast on the Oregon Coast
At the Arch Cape Inn, we fully support the work of the Haystack Awareness Program, which educates visitors on the Puffins in Oregon and protects our beautiful beaches and the wildlife that calls this area home. Our stunning stretch of beach at Arch Cape is one of the most pristine and quiet; the sandy shore spans nearly a mile from Point Merriweather and Hug Point.
Our nine guest rooms at our bed and breakfast on the Oregon Coast offer the perfect reprieve after a day of adventure, whether hiking, birdwatching, biking, or shopping in Cannon Beach. Many of our rooms offer views of the Pacific Ocean, offering a chance to appreciate nature’s beauty right from your window. As you settle in, you’ll be welcomed by the warm glow of a gas fireplace, creating a cozy retreat for relaxation in our bed and breakfast.
Each morning, we provide an elegant breakfast prepared with care, skill, and the bounty of Oregon’s fresh produce and ingredients. Join us in the dining room for sweet and savory dishes and freshly brewed coffee from Sleepy Monk Coffee Roasters. It’s the best way to start your day on the Oregon Coast! Our welcoming Innkeepers are on hand to offer personalized recommendations. We can’t wait to host you at our bed and breakfast on the Oregon Coast; book your lodging today!
