[obol] Churning Sea & Birds

[Cindy Ashy]

This morning at Yaquina Head all the physical factors of the Northwest aligned
just so to produce a wickedly frothy churning sea. Wads of white foam blew
across the parking lot like escaped suds from an over filled washing machine
placed in a wind tunnel. My parked vehicle didn't quite take flight but rocked
and rattled with the wind to such a degree it made me think a couple of times
about what it might be like to fly in a car over a cliff without the benefit of
wings. (That last sentence could be like one of those ink blot tests - those of
you who started humming that chitty chitty bang bang song have a positive
Disney-like outlook on life - those of you who immediately thought of Thelma
and Louise, well, what can I say - I'm sorry.) These blustery conditions at the
headland, which must have seemed like the very western tip of the world to
those who didn't have the benefit of science to know the world was round, are
always exhilarating but most of the birds stay grounded. I'm fascinated at how
birds interact with different kinds of weather...I mean they're out there 24/7
exposed to every element that comes pouring out of the sky and sea. It's
amazing to watch how they find these little microniches of protection...little
pockets of relative safety....hugging particular spots on the substrate where
there's lower wind velocity...sometimes the reverse design of their airfoiled
wings. Those that do chance a choppy clumsy flight (mostly gutsy gulls) do
provide a level of suspense not normally found in birdwatching....but I guess
today my most exciting sighting were two Common Murres that "landed" at the top
of Lion's Head almost as if the big bad sea had huffed and puffed and spat them
out.

Cindy Ashy


 
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