Lemmer - De Brekken

Autumn is a fact. The ever-keen swiss department pulled a Pec and 2 Broad-billed Sandpipers out of this miniature-Ezumakeeg area, through his bins! In fact, there were only 3 calidris present, amazing! Furthermore 3 Caspian Terns and a Bittern (all digiscopes).

 

Newport pelagic

The Oregon coast is excellent for whale-watching, and expectations where high as we entered the Discovery for a 2 hour pelagic. Beautifull Pigeon Guillemots and Pacific Cormorants were abundant but the whales were on a deep, very deep dive.

We did see Gray Whale, from the mainland:-)

River restoration, serious

Elwha River near Port Angeles WA was blocked by a dam, and lake Aldwell was created. In september 2011 a restoration program was started to recreate a free-flowing river and thus allowing salmon and other fish to migrate again. The result is impressive!

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Bald Eagle snatches a Murre

Yaquina Head north of Newport OR is a bit like Helgoland. There is an impressive colony of Guillemots (which they call Murres), but there are no Gannets. That is probably the reason why the Murres can take over the top of the rock, instead of the sides against the cliffs.

The path to the lighthouse offers a great view over de colony, and other birds include Black Oystercatcher and Brandt' s Cormorant.

While scanning the sea for the occasional (and most wanted!) Tufted Puffin we saw a Sooty Shearwater and a flock of White-winged Scoters. Suddenly an adult Bald Eagle flew in and perched on the rocks.

It sat there for a while and after having decided which Murre would be the easiest meal it took off, flew low over the colony and snatched a Murre. From it's nest! you can see the greenish egg on te picture.

When we left some more (immature) Bald Eagles arrived, probably aiming to pull the same trick. Impressive birds!!

Fish Passage 2013

Just returned home from a great week at Corvallis, Newport, Port Angeles and Anacortis. More fish and some birds soon!