We also saw a family of oystercatchers (Oren [Dad], Olive [Mom], Orville [Junior] and Olivia [Sis]). We sat and watched them for quite a while. The four of them walked around some intertidal rocks below our observation spot, far from the madding crowd. After a while, the two younger ones (whose beaks were shorter and less brilliant than the adults) settled down to nap while Oren stood guard. Olive disappeared, but returned a little while later with a limpet that she placed in front of Orville (or Olivia), neatly poked it twice with her beak, and then looked at Orville (or Olivia), who promptly ate it and then carried it around in his (or her) beak. Unfortunately, those pictures didn't turn out, so all you get is Oren striding about and thinking deep thoughts.
Adult oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani)
Horizon Line (Found Rothko)
Mark Rothko is in mind because one of his paintings turns up in an episode of Mad Men, but I've taken color field pictures like this and called them found Rothkos before.
Bull Kelp
The full field of bull kelp reminded me of a Hubble Space telescope picture. The tendrils floating, the ambient medium. That's not captured in this photograph, however.
Cliff flowers and grass seed
I looked through two guidebooks trying to identify these flowers. They're probably some very common weed that I skimmed past, hoping for something more exotic.
All:
Rosario Head, Deception Pass State Park, WA
July, 2009
