Oregon Coast ~ January 29, 2012
Visitors enjoy our scenic coast at the turnout on U.S. 101 where we saw the Oswald West conservation plaque yesterday.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Four Hundred Miles of Coast
Oregon Coast south of Astoria ~ January 28, 2012
A memorable achievement. The plaque reads:
If sight of sand and sky and sea
has given respite from your daily cares
then pause to thank
OSWALD WEST
former Governor of Oregon (1911-1915)
By his foresight
nearly 400 miles of the ocean shore
was set aside for public use
from the Columbia River on the north
to the California border on the south
This marker is erected and dedicated
by the grateful citizens of Oregon
to commemorate
this outstanding achievement
in the conservation of natural resources
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Garibaldi Crab Races
Garibaldi, Oregon ~ January 29, 2012
About 60 miles down the coast from Astoria, you can witness one of the country's most unusual races. I've never been to the crab races. Can anyone clue me in?
Friday, January 27, 2012
On the Water
Astoria, Oregon ~ January 27, 2012
On a stunning, cold day, NYK Line's Neptune Leader is ready to greet river pilots on board Arrow II. Taken from Doc's on 12th Street.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Western Grebe
Astoria, Oregon ~ December 7, 2011
I think this must be a western grebe, although it has similar features to Clark's grebe. The head looks rounder to me, but then I know so little about birds. I'm sorry the photo isn't sharper. The grebes don't come in as close to shore as some of the other birds, and they will "run" as soon as they see me. There are plenty of fish and crustaceans in the Columbia River to keep a bird like this happy.
This red-eyed water bird is part of my current water bird series. Thanks to one of the blog's readers for asking for more local water birds!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Cormorant Colors
Astoria, Oregon ~ December 7, 2011
Cormorants are common around Astoria's waterfront pilings. Usually I see them in a dark brown or black phase. I don't know to what I should attribute this cormorant's coloration, perhaps it's a young one.
Here is the profile we most often see.
This one has a blue eye. Black cormorants I've photographed had eyes of pale, unearthly green, and I saw a photo of one with red eyes.
I liked the pattern of its feathers and the blue hues, especially near the top.
And then the surprising blue tail feathers!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Three Days Ago
Astoria, Oregon ~ January 16, 2012
Today it's been raining like crazy and the warm(er) weather has blown in, so I thought I'd post a couple more photos from one of our snow days. It's always interesting to me to see the snow on a riverfront scene.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Snow Day #2
Astoria, Oregon ~ January 17, 2012
This is Harrison Street (with snow) at 11th Street (no snow). Eleventh street gets more traffic, and it gets the gravel as well. I took this at about 11:00 this morning.
By early afternoon there were still traces of snow in Astoria, but not that much. I guess it says something about Astoria's winter weather that the grass and azalea bush at the post office are this green in January.
I took this photo on a teeny street called Flavel that comes off of Bond Street. It's as wide as an alley and about half a block long. By tonight all the slush and water may be slick and frozen. Then again, it may just rain a lot. The weather report says there's 100% chance of precipitation tomorrow, and the temperature as I write this at 4:15 p.m. is 35 degrees. While we slop around in cold, damp streets with fading snow, Seattle, about three hours north and east, is bracing for enough of the white stuff to seriously derail their travel plans.
Here's another photo from yesterday along the River Walk facing the stoplight at 14th Street.
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