[obol] Lane Coast Last Week

[Norgren Family]

      I spent most of five days in the Florence
area 7/13-7/17. Before departure I felt mild
qualms about no internet access, and sure enough
I missed the Elegant Terns, one of my ten most
wanted birds. I went frequently to the south jetty
road, blithely unaware of the possibilities just
across the river. The south spit was noteworthy
for a lack of anything interesting on all visits.
     I would highly recommend the Siltcoos River
mouth. The many recent postings have detailed
successful SNOWY PLOVER sightings on the north
side of the river. There is a parking lot right
next to the beach and very little time need be
invested. This parking lot is also a staging area
for off highway vehicles which inevitably influences
the aesthetics. If you have time to spare, the
Wax Myrtle Trail on the south bank is great. It's
a 2.5 mile round trip on foot. A wide range of
landscapes are encountered on this short hike
with only the most minimal contact with civilization.
      I mention this because many folks may be
traveling with non-birders. I had almost half a
dozen teenagers with me who typically make no attempt
to conceal their impatience when I stop for birds.
I ended up waiting for them on the return trip from
the beach. A snowy plover was in loose association
with seven semi-palmated plovers on the wet sand
the evening of July 14. This elicited no interest
from my companions, but at Wax Myrtle Wetland, a small
deflation plain lake some distance east of the
beach, a very tame Great-blue Heron filled up the
scope. Everyone was thrilled to see its elaborate
plumage in detail. I saw it catch and release a newt.
      At one point the trail runs along a bluff
created by the river cutting into a forested
dune. One can look across the small, but pristine,
estuary and see the surf still a great distance away.
An Osprey was fishing over the surf the whole time
we were there. I got extended looks at two beaver
below the bluff although it was hours before dark.
My oldest son commented on the strangeness of the
place compared to all other places he'd visited on the
coast. I pointed out that it was the only truly
undeveloped place he'd been to on the Oregon Coast.
"People sure have messed up the rest of it," was
his response.   Lars Norgren