On May 5, Johnny and I hiked a trail I swore I would never hike. It is one that goes to The Thumb, where I have monitored Black Oystercatcher nests on offshore rocks for many years. But the trail I took is now closed to the public. The new, longer version is advertised as a tourist hiking trail, rated "difficult". It began as a trail to The Knoll but now few people take the side trail that goes to The Knoll. The Thumb is more popular.
Another BLOY (Black Oystercatcher) monitor took over last year but because of Covid and a narrow trail, she only went two times. That wasn't enough to know the outcome of the one nest we both knew was there. So I vowed this year to go via the beach into the cove below The Thumb when tides were low enough. And I have, twice. Last week I was sure the pair of BLOY who were hanging out on that nest rock the first week were nesting last week, but from below I could not find the nest.
So Johnny agreed to go with me yesterday, May 5, to keep me from getting lost. We read the directions online and studied the map and drove to the designated starting point at the cul de sac at the end of NE Devil's Lake Blvd. It turned out to be a very long, arduous, up and down hike. But we made it. And soon, so did a lot of other people. The Thumb with its spectacular coastline scenery is a popular hiking destination now.
From up there, it was easy to find the nest... in the same place it has been for several years. And the BLOY kindly did a nest exchange twice, 50 minutes apart as is their usual, and we were able to see three eggs. Hallelujah!
But I'm not doing that hike again. I hope the new monitor is able to go more often this year. She is several decades younger than us (probably four or five decades younger), but has the disadvantage of working during the week so has to go on tourist-busy weekends when the trail and the top of The Thumb are crowded. Here's our trek in photos...
The first photo is the climax of our trip: the BLOY returning to her nest of 3 eggs. Then the photos proceed in order along our hike, showing some of the several huge widow-maker trees leaning over the trail. We finally break out into the meadow on top and then the amazing views. And my much-loved views from the very edge of The Thumb, looking down at the nest rocks and beyond to the distant island, which this day had a mature Bald Eagle on top and a younger one partly down the side. The sign photo was taken on our way out and was apparently erected when this trail was only for The Knoll.
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| This view of the Oystercatcher returning to her nest of 3 eggs made the trek worthwhile! |
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| Our first view of the ocean peeking over the meadow |
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| Johnny at the top, looking toward Cascade Head. He carries our small scope in a guitar case on his back |
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| Looking south along the Road's End coastline |
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| looking north toward Cascade Head |
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| The Thumb in the distance. Just one more treacherous cliffside trail between... |
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| Looking down from the trail toward the foraging rocks where we often see BLOY |
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| A closer view |
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| Johnny on his final ascent up The thumb |
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| This is the view from the west most point of The Thumb, where I sit to monitor the nesting birds. The Middle Rock, with the nest, is the white-washed rock in center of photo |
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| The nest is straight down from the highest point of the rock. The two white spots are gulls. |
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| Straight down from the gulls, below the horizontal cleft in the rock, at the bottom of this photo is the nesting BLOY |
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| Here she/he is returning to the nest of 3 eggs |
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| back on the nest |
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| The view of another nest rock, foraging rocks, and Polly Island in the distance |
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| the island, devoid of its usual hordes of cormorants and gulls |
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| On the very top of the rock is the reason for the lack of seabirds |
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| A Bald Eagle! |
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| Down and to the right is an immature eagle |
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