Western Gulls and Cormorants nest on the rocky cliffs on the Oregon Coast. The gulls are near the top while cormorants like a more risky location.
Chicks are very well camouflaged
I think seagulls hatch laughing.
Western Gulls – HA HA HA ha ha
Cormorant chicks apparently hatch pooping. If you see streaks of white on the cliffs, look for a nest at the top of the white streak.
Cormorant chicks on the nest
The Great Blue Heron nests in tree tops but fish in rivers, bays and tidepools.
Great Blue Heron like tidepooling for a different reason
I love the contrast of colors on the Pigeon Guillemot: black body, white patch on wings, red legs.
Pigeon Guillemot
The mouth lining is also bright red-orange during courting season. The Pigeon Guillemot is one of the few members of the auk and puffin family to lay 2 eggs. They also feed in shallower water.
Red mouth and red feet makes it harder to tell when foot is in mouth – which, as we know, can happen a lot during courtship
Even when I can’t find any starfish I LOVE tidepooling.
The colors of the plants are so rich!
My sweet hubby took me tidepooling this morning and he’s not even that into it. I feel so loved!
Seagulls bathing at Seal Rock, Oregon
We went to Seal Rock where, oddly enough, I’ve only seen 2 seals in the 8 years we’ve been here. It was a gorgeous day!
Giant Green Anemone among various seaweeds (sea lettuce, black pine, etc)
Anemones disguise themselves by holding onto shell pieces when they close.
Aggregating Anemones
It can get pretty windy on the beach but it usually comes up later in the morning or afternoon. We decided to get an early start and it had to be timed with low tide; of course.
Picnic tables in Seal Rock State Park
We parked at Seal Rock State Park which has a clean restroom, picnic tables and paved ramp that goes almost to the beach. The last 20 feet or so are loose rocks.
Seal Rock State Park beach access
Can you barely see the seagulls on top of the cliff on the left side of the photo above?
