Cape Flattery

Cape Flattery is the most northwestern point on the continental United States. It is a spectacular area, with abundant wildlife, dramatic seascapes and a picturesque lighthouse on Tatoosh Island.

The parking area is on Makah Indian Reservation land, so you need to purchase a permit in Neah Bay before driving out.

After a short walk through a spruce forest, there are a number of very nice observing platforms built by the Park Service, and are very stable for photography.

The dramatic shoreline of Cape Flattery

It was an Oystercatcher convention. The naturalist related that they have counted over 80 Oystercatchers from the main observation platform. The platform is quite high, so it's a good idea to bring binoculars and/or long lenses for your camera.

Oystercatchers resting and prining on the rocks

Although quite far, I was able to get a few shots of Tufted Puffins diving off shore. Puffins are great to watch. They can be seen catching and sometimes holding numerous fish in their beaks, and then flying them back to the nest. This is a cropped shot with a 600mm lens.

Interesting fog and clouds rolled in, with the fog obscuring the lighthouse. This scene is looking south.

Looking south

We stopped again briefly in Neah Bay in search of fresh salmon before heading back to Lake Crescent.

Sea Birds at Harris Beach, Brookings, Oregon

Wondering on the shore, camera in hand, the enjoyment of being there is always enhanced with wildlife. I have favorite birds, and tend to shoot these more often. Here are few pictures of the birds that were around when I was shooting all those sea stacks (see below).

Oystercatchers are always great to have around. First, they have a very distinct appearance with their black bodies, white legs, orange bills and intensely orange eyes outlined in red. They are also quite vocal, with a chattering call that can be heard for a very long distance.

An Oystercatcher at Harris Beach

They are also very social birds, and usually travel in groups. The largest group I have seen so far was at Cape Flattery, with as many as 80 Oystercatchers together there (look for future post).

Oystercatchers working the rocks

Another favorite are Pelicans. When we were here at Harris Beach two years ago, there were literally thousands of California Brown Pelicans. This year showed much lower numbers, but still enough to observe and enjoy. Some were hit hard last year, and were found far inland, seemingly disoriented. Others were washing up on the beach. Many believe, as is years past, that they were victims of pesticides.

Here are two drying and pruning offshore, joined by a Double-crested cormorant.

Pelicans and a Cormorant on a "adorned" rock