Escape to the Beach

 Once a quarter, I walk a mile on the beach and report what I see to CoastWatch, a division of Oregon Shores. Today was my 4th quarter walk, selected because of the fog and cold in hopes few other people would be there. The Oregon coast has become a very popular place during this pandemic. 

"My" mile is accessed at McPhillips Park north of Cape Kiwanda. That park has been blocked off until recently. Now it's just blocked below the parking area to keep vehicles off the beach. No vehicles, other than those needed for boats, are currently allowed from Tierra del Mar south to the mouth of the Nestucca River. However I don't know how many people know that. Today one pickup was on the beach. The people with it acted guilty so I think they knew they weren't supposed to be there. Always there are people who think rules are for others, just ask the poor clerks in stores trying to get people to wear masks.

Besides the people in the pickup, only a few other people were on the beach and those we met in the narrow access road to the beach put on masks, as did we, when meeting. Most people are responsible and kind.

Here are a few photos of  "my" mile in the fog.

That's Johnny in the fog, reading a book. It's an appropriate subject for the coast: Octopuses

 

I also use this walk to check on Black Oystercatchers (BLOY) who nest on Chief Kiawanda Rock but forage on rocks in "my mile", at the foot of Cape Kiwanda. In the years they successfully fledge chicks, they bring the chicks there to forage. Today there was a pair of adults but no fledglings, so I guess they didn't have good luck this year. It's a good thing BLOY can live a long time because they sure don't seem to raise fledglings successfully very often.

 

On the way back, I saw a little flock of little birds I didn't know what were, so I took photos. Although distant, it allowed me to look them up at home and guess that they were American Pipits. I asked for verification on Oregon Birders On Line and got it. This is the first I knew they hang out on beaches as well as open fields.

 

After our hike, we stopped at our favorite Pacific City restaurant, Los Caporales, for takeout, which we took out to a River Access spot and ate.  Back home I spent the next hour or more on my least favorite part of the walk: entering data. 

But it was a good day on the beach. Any day I see a Black Oystercatcher is a good day.