Minto-Brown Island Park (again) – 10/19/2026

My ongoing issues with my back/hips have made it necessary to change the way we normally approach hiking. One of the biggest impacts has been our inability to travel for a vacation where we would typically hike 5 or 6 days out of the 10 days from Sat through Sun. My final week of vacation was going to be more of the same. Instead of a hiking trip I had a couple of appointments scheduled and was working my way back from not being able to hike for a couple of weeks due to heel and hip issues.

An afternoon PT appointment on Monday meant I needed to keep my driving time down and I also wanted to keep my distance options open, so I made the 15-minute drive to Minto-Brown Island Park for the fifth time this year. I parked in Lot 4 along Homestead Road which would give me a chance to check on the otters (post) first thing and on the way back.

The trail from Lot 4.

My plan was to check the slough for otters then proceed to Green Heron Slough where there always seems to be a good deal of wildlife. From there my plan, assuming my heel and hip cooperated, was to hit several of the other bodies of water where wildlife tends to hang out. My body cooperated and I wound up doing a counterclockwise loop past the fishing pond, Willamette Slough, and Oxbow Slough then returned to Lot 4 via Green Heron Slough. Along the way I visited the old cherry orchard and took a new to me path through the center of the orchard.

The new to me section through the orchard is the straight line at the top of the loop. This was a 7.5-mile route.

No otters on this day but there was still plenty of wildlife and excellent scenery. Here are some of the highlights.

One of several great blue herons seen throughout the morning.

Deer on the far side of the slough from Faragate Road. This was the first time I’d seen deer in this area.

While I didn’t see the otters in the slough where we had before, this belted kingfisher was at the far end.

The leaves are really starting to fall now.

Another GBH in Green Heron Slough.

Egret

Mallards

Sparrow

One of at least a dozen rabbits I saw.

Squirrel!

The perpetually flooded trail near the fishing pond. I was able to stay dry by walking on my heels today.

Wood duck in the fishing pond.

They mowed some of the fields.

Red-tailed hawk that was heading down to the field.

It didn’t get whatever it had dove for.

Nutria family

Willamette Slough

Black phoebe

Northern flicker

How many robins do you see?

Heading into the old cherry orchard.

Scrub jay

Spotted towhee

The new to me section of trail.

Cedar waxwing

An egret, mallards, and two greater yellowlegs in Oxbow Slough.

One of the greater yellowlegs.

Geese further out in the slough.

Egret, mallards, and a GBH.

The Willamette River.

A greater yellowlegs and a turtle sharing a log in Green Heron Slough.

Geen winged teal and an American wigeon

Stellar’s jay

Still no otters today.

It was another nice day at the park. There were a number of other species of birds that I saw/heard but couldn’t get a picture of. The amount and variety of wildlife in the park makes every visit unique and provides a reason to keep returning. In addition to all the critters we’ve seen in the park mink, beaver, bobcat, and even cougar have been spotted at times here.