Animals in and around tide pools

While on the Oregon Coast we enjoyed visiting some excellent tide pools at Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Coquille Point - Bandon Beach and Yaquina Head Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area.  Abundant sea life uses these natural areas, both under water, and on the giant rock outcrops off shore (featured in an earlier post). Unfortunately both visits occurred on very overcast days, so the pictures are a little on the dark side.

The beach at Bandon was experiencing a minus tide which exposed some areas which are normally not seen.  

Green Anemones

Baby Seal at Bandon Beach outcrop waiting for Mom

Baby and Mom reunited

Seastar at Bandon Beach

Seastar and green anemones

Seastar and green anemones (closed, out of water) higher up on the rocks

Seastars and anemone at evening low tide, Bandon Beach

Seagull at low tide, Bandon Beach

Seals at evening low tide, Bandon Beach

Further North on the coast near Newport, we visited the Yaquina Head Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area.  Around the lighthouse is the natural area which includes seabird nesting areas, seal haul outs, and trails to tide pools.  On the cliffs near the visitor's center a pair of Perigrine Falcons were nesting.  We were told by a photographer that two nestlings had been spotted earlier.  We were able to see the male falcon.

Perigrine Falcon

Of interest at this area is the "beach".  It is covered with rounded basalt rocks from dime sized pebbles to soft ball size rocks.  The rocks were formed when hot lava from an volcanic eruption met the cold ocean water millions of years ago. The specific item of interest here was the purple sea urchin.  The variety of shapes, sizes, and colors of the animals in the tide pools was amazing.

Cobble Beach

Walking on this beach was extremely difficult.  It also sounded like walking on a large pile of empty Coke bottles.  Once past the cobbles, the tide pools presented their own problems.  The challenge was to step only on rocks not covered in animal or plant life while keeping balance and not falling into the water. The specific item of interest here was the purple sea urchin.  The variety of shapes, sizes, and colors of the animals in the tide pools was amazing.

Balancing Act at the Tide Pools

Full Tide Pool

Giant Green Anemone

Seastar, anemone and purple urchins

Purple Urchins and green anemone 

Mussels

Mussels

Harbor seals are resident animals here at Yaquina Head.  We viewed many hauled out and resting on the rock outcrops or swimming near the shore.

Mom and Pup (look closely)

Group Haulout

Mom and pup resting

The area is home nesting grounds for a number of sea birds, including Common Murres, two types of Cormorant, puffins, and sea gulls.  We did not see any puffins but the others were abundant (understatement).

Cormorants and Murres in nesting area at Yaquina Head Lighthouse

Cormorants at Yaquina Head Lighthouse

Murres in nesting area at Yaquina Head Lighthouse