Nov. 24, 2013 - West Coast Trip-Part 3

“It was a foggy morning along the Pacific Coast …” That sounds like the opening line of a novel, but it does describe several mornings during our stay in Bandon, Oregon. This photo was taken at low tide on the beach below the house where we stayed. At high tide, water would cover the whole beach, including the lighter area at the base of this huge rock. That doesn’t look very impressive but it’s actually about 6 feet above the sand. Diana and I think this view of the rock makes it look like a king wearing a huge hat. He’s looking to the left and has his arms folded in front of him. At the base of the rock, on the left side, is a small, lighter area. That’s a tide pool (see the next photo.)

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Sometimes sand is washed away from the base of these huge rocks, forming a depression next to the rock. When the tide goes out, water remains in the depression and makes a tide pool. Interesting sea creatures, like these Giant Green Sea Anemones, live in the tide pools. The green color comes from algae growing inside the translucent flesh of the Anemone. The sticky tentacles catch prey and pass it to the mouth (in the center of the Anemone).

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The Anemones in the previous photo were under water, so they have their tentacles extended. This photo shows Anemones that are out of the water because the tide is low. When that happens, they curl up to prevent drying out. Notice the white bits of shell on the sides of the Anemones.

AneomeGiantGreenFaceRockWaysideBandon20131019

Ochre Sea Stars also live on these rocks and can be found out of the water at low tide. The lower part of the rock shown here (which is under water at high tide) is densely covered with Barnacles and Mussels. You can also see some Anemones in this photo.

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Pieces of Giant Kelp (a large seaweed), are washed onto the shore along the Pacific Coast. Shorebirds, like this Pectoral Sandpiper, forage for the insects that live in these decaying piles of weeds. This bird is about 9 inches tall but it was almost hidden in the weed pile.

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We visited Cape Arago State Park, just north of Bandon, and found a group of Harlequin Ducks. I made my way out among the rocks and got this photo of four males and one female. I liked the picture so much that I entered it in the monthly photo contest conducted by the Oregon birders group. It won first place and was displayed on the home page of the Oregon birders website for the month of December, 2013.

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