Black Oystercatcher Survey Season

Portland Audubon is again sponsoring a 3 week population survey on the Oregon coast for Black Oystercatchers (BLOY), a  "species of concern". The survey started May 7, Tuesday. Johnny and I went to Road's End that day, as one or both of us have been doing since these surveys began in 2005, under USGS back then.

Two of the three pairs of BLOY that usually nest in that area were nesting. One was even in sight of our Observation Point atop "The Thumb". It was a hot day and the nesting bird spent quite a bit of time shading the egg instead of warming it up.

You can't beat the views on the Oregon Coast. This is from our Observation Point looking south with Lincoln City in the distance along the shore line.

 A pair of Bald Eagles hung around for the entire time we were there.

 Johnny was worried his knees would not handle the climb but he did just fine. It is great to have him back helping with BLOY surveys.

 From Road's End, we went to another of my survey areas near Neskowin. Unfortunately, the unsold lot from which I had access to an offshore nest has been sold and the owner doesn't like company.

So I tried to find another viewpoint of, at least, the eagle nest I also monitor there. No luck but I did find an interesting horizontal tree covered with ferns.

Next trip, I will try yet another access direction. Hope springs eternal...

Farm duties kept us busy the next day, but on the 9th, I trekked to Cascade Head for the very long hike into a former BLOY nest site there. I do have access permission from the Hebo Ranger District onto a road behind a locked gate. The trek at the end of the road is arduous but the view lovely. Unfortunately, there were no BLOY at the usual nest site on the big rock in the photo, or anywhere else.

 But there were lots of Sea Lions on the rocks below...

These four seemed to be doing some sort of water ballet...

The hike back up out of that area is very steep and exhausting. I always look forward to the Sitting Log, as I call it, part way up, where I rest and drink water and work up enthusiasm for the rest of the climb.

Meanwhile, Johnny was having his own adventure. That morning he had loaded a big trailer load of lumber to take up to Kevin and Jessica's chicken coop project at Traumhof, their dressage facility near Seattle. He left home about 10:30 a.m..

Johnny got as far as the middle of the bridge between Oregon and Washington when the van broke down. Many hours and phone calls to repair shops and efforts to figure out what was wrong later, he limped off the bridge and found a repair shop that fixed (replaced?) his water pump. He finally arrived at Traumhof after midnight.

I had left home at 10 a.m. and was home by 4:40, having rested while surveying for BLOY and enjoying sea lion antics... and on the Sitting Log on the way back out. Certainly a great improvement over sitting on a bridge with four lanes of traffic whizzing by trying to figure out how to fix the van and get out of there.

Now it's back to farm chores for me and chicken coop building for Johnny. Monday the BLOY adventures begin again.