[obol] Common Terns: Clatsop Beaches: Clatsop Co.

[David Bailey]

5 Sept. 2006
Clatsop Beaches: between Sunset Beach and Gearhart Beach Access

This afternoon I was going shopping in Warrenton, and so drove north 
from Gearhart along the beach looking for shorebirds.
A group of four COMMON TERNS were loafing with gulls midway between the 
Del Ray Access and the Sunset Beach Access.  One was an adult with 
black-tipped red bill and full black crown. The other three were 
juvenals with carpel bars and more orange based bills and white forehead 
with black crown that dipped down behind the eye. The young were calling 
a lot as if begging. I wondered if I was seeing a family group.

A single BAIRD'S SANDPIPER (juvenal) was nearby. The only other 
shorebirds were a single WHIMBREL and 15 SANDERLINGS. A wave deposited 
GREAT BLUE HERON immature was splayed akimbo about the wrack line.

While I was on the beach someone in an SUV tried to cut across one of 
the linear channels carved by the onshore waves this summer. The truck 
was immediately up to its wheel wells under water and came to an abrupt 
halt. Another vehicle was nearby and went for help while the driver and 
passenger of the stuck vehicle climbed out and walked towards Sunset 
Beach. Drive slowly on the beach and do not try to cross any water!

Steve Warner stopped by this evening and said that he saw a PECTORAL 
SANDPIPER and VIRGINIA RAIL off Little Beach in the northwest portion of 
the Necanicum Estuary. There has been a Virginia Rail in the sedges and 
rushes there for the last week or two.

I stopped at the Hammond Boat Basin viewpoint before shopping to let Eva 
finish her nap in the backseat. I was amazed by not the birds (HEERMAN'S 
GULLS, CASPIAN TERNS, etc.), but by the color of the water. For as far 
as I could see there were large bands or slicks of dark purple water in 
between  blue-green water. I think this is the first red tide I have 
ever seen. Wow.

David

David C. Bailey
Seaside, Oregon
baileydc at pdx.edu