Ocean Reprieve

 

 

It's been a tough several weeks plus on the farm, so today's hike to the Thumb in spectacular weather with a Black Oystercatcher chick in view on Middle Rock was just what I needed. Actually, I swear I saw two chicks with two adults but missed the second chick in my photos. They kept disappearing behind the rock fortress where my co-monitor, Casey, had guessed the nest was.

As an added bonus, the South Rock pair appear to be renesting. 

First, the Middle Rock story in photos, sort of in the order I took them:

 

 

adult left, chick behind to the right

chick, rock fortress where nest was suspected is left of chick

chick, closer

adult on foraging rock gathering food for chick(s)

foraging rock with BLOY barely visible

The nest rock is big rock in foreground. Foraging rock is the little roundish one to the right (north)

2 adults, 1 chick (between the adults)

same as above but farther away

adult

Middle Rock (nest rock) with Black (or Back) Rock behind

adult on left, chick behind, 2nd adult far right, with a 2nd chick likely behind the "fortress" behind the visible chick

adult and chick

 

I'll save the South Rock photos for my Black Oystercatcher blog. For those who would just like to see the beautiful ocean scene from my Observation Post, here it is:

Cascade Head in the distance

The offshore island covered in guano

My view from The Thumb of the nest and foraging rocks below. A good scope and/or good camera is essential. The view is too distant for binoculars.

The trail back toward The Knoll from The Thumb (the most civilized part of the trail)

The trail from The Knoll to the parking area

 Earlier this year, during the month of rain, the trails were a slippery, muddy mess. Today they were beautiful.