Tuesday, September 20, 2011

When the fish aren't biting




We spent the afternoon on the Yaquina River, fishing for salmon. Although we saw many small coho salmon jumping out of the water, none was interested in our bait.

All along the river, we encountered several bird species that also fish. Many of them were resting, but we saw pelicans and loons catching fish, and egrets and herons fishing. Gulls were flying high, chasing aero-plankton (probably swarming carpenter ants).

The photos show cormorants, brown pelicans, and gulls hanging out around the oyster house and it's nursery piers.

Monday, September 5, 2011

A walk in the fog






Saturday the sun was out, and our temperature hit 75 degrees. However, on Sunday, we didn't see much of the sun, and the temperature didn't get above the low 60's. What a difference a day makes.

I walked to town around and across Alsea Bay in the fog. First I encountered a great blue heron that was fishing. Then as I was crossing the bridge, I stopped to view the harbor seals that were resting on a sand bar. A few steps later, the sun came out for a couple of minutes, for a better view of the seals.