Yesterday, I was down in the Yachats – Cape Perpetua area around high tide
during the huge surf event. Pretty awesome to watch. At my first stop at
Smelts Sands State Park. I was watching the huge waves roll ashore when
the guy next to me asked if I knew what kind of birds were at our feet!
About 15’ away was a camouflaged group of rockpipers roosting and riding
out the high surf right next to the trail. Along with the black turnstone
and surfbirds was one rock sandpiper. Except for Yachats Bay, every stop I
made as far down as Strawberry Hill had roasting rockpipers. While I was
at Cook’s Chasm marveling at the surf a large flock of rockpipers flew in
and landed. I photographed them on the wing then look through the flock
and only surfbirds were present. From my photos I counted 177 surfbirds in
the flock.
I have posted some photos and videos of the rockpipers, surf, waves, tidal
surge etc here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/24707703@N06/albums/72157689584062132
A camera really couldn’t do justice to the event. Check out the two videos
of the tidal surge into and out of Yachats Bay. It resembled a small
tsunami (3-5’) rolling up the bay then draining out only to be repeated.
Fun day
Roy
