DSCN8152
Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach, low tide, seen from south. Note all the people at the foot of the rock, they're checking out the tide pools as well as the birds roosting on the rock. There was a rope stretched around the bottom to persuade people not to (say) start climbing, also the occasional person from Audubon Society or similar keeping watch. According to the lady there when we were there, tufted puffins do nest on the rock (strictly the reason for the visit) but they tend to tuck themselves into their burrows mid-day, and she hadn't seen any since before 11:00 (this was at 11:30). I might have seen a fly-by but tufted puffin viewing fail. However there were a bunch of pelagic cormorants (nesting, I think) and (of course) Western Gulls up there, and other interesting bird fly-bys, and well a beautiful day. Hardly got to notice the tide pools, perhaps a different trip. (I did get some pix of the pelagic cormorants in their nests, but nothing that was artistic. Just enough to be certain they were, in fact, pelagic cormorants, esp since one was fluffing itself/preening and demonstrated the white flank patches. Wasn't quite sure if they were in fact raising chicks, I did see something at the feet of one of them that could have been a chick. Or a snack. It was way up there.)
DSCN8152
Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach, low tide, seen from south. Note all the people at the foot of the rock, they're checking out the tide pools as well as the birds roosting on the rock. There was a rope stretched around the bottom to persuade people not to (say) start climbing, also the occasional person from Audubon Society or similar keeping watch. According to the lady there when we were there, tufted puffins do nest on the rock (strictly the reason for the visit) but they tend to tuck themselves into their burrows mid-day, and she hadn't seen any since before 11:00 (this was at 11:30). I might have seen a fly-by but tufted puffin viewing fail. However there were a bunch of pelagic cormorants (nesting, I think) and (of course) Western Gulls up there, and other interesting bird fly-bys, and well a beautiful day. Hardly got to notice the tide pools, perhaps a different trip. (I did get some pix of the pelagic cormorants in their nests, but nothing that was artistic. Just enough to be certain they were, in fact, pelagic cormorants, esp since one was fluffing itself/preening and demonstrated the white flank patches. Wasn't quite sure if they were in fact raising chicks, I did see something at the feet of one of them that could have been a chick. Or a snack. It was way up there.)