While OceanDiver was paddling the calm waters of the Salish Sea, we were experiencing the wilder ocean along the outer WA coast, on the beaches of the Olympic National Park. October 20-22, 2015.
I made a few discoveries by watching the behavior of birds.
Now I know why they are called Surf Scoters
This group was repeatedly submerged by breaking waves over their heads. They just bobbed along with the wild ride. My usual sightings of Surf Scoters in the relatively sedate waters of Discovery Bay and around the ferry docks never hinted that they'd thrive in the surf so much.
The Daily Bucket is a regular feature of the Backyard Science group. It is a place to note any observations you have made of the world around you. Snails, fish, insects, weather, meteorites, climate, birds and/or flowers. All are worthy additions to the bucket. Each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the patterns that are quietly unwinding around us. Please let us know what is going on around you in a comment. Include, as close as is comfortable for you, where you are located.
Here comes another one! Follow the scoters and me past the frothy waves.
I saw this flock of shorebirds hanging out on this rock. I started walking out toward them to get as close as I could for the photo.
Surfbirds
All of a sudden...
They all turn and run up the rock
Odd behavior, I thought. The next thing I knew, I was up to my ankles in water. The birds knew that an especially large wave was coming and would break on the lower parts of the rock. It also came much farther up the beach than all the earlier ones that had convinced me where I was standing was OK. Of course, I was looking at the world through the lens and not seeing the bigger picture of the incoming big wave. Lesson learned: watch the Surfbirds when they run to higher ground!
This creek flows out across the beach and provides some fresher water that the gulls seemed to enjoy.
Gulls bathing in Creek
Not all of our bird observations involved long walks on the beach. These guys liked grazing in the yard in front of our cabin while the dogs stared out the sliding glass door at them. You can see how concerned the geese were about the dogs.
No long lens required for closeups!
White-fronted Goose
Finally, I've been visiting this area for several years and watching this tree. It has been undermined both by waves crashing into the bluff and water flowing off the bluff. This coast is a challenging place to live. The tree is still hanging on by bare roots!
Your turn! All observations of nature of any kind are welcome in the comments.
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