Pals

We had thought to use these few days in Newport as a chance to explore some of the coast, but soon realised that we had no need to go very far at all. A five-minute drive and we were at Yaquina Head – an Outstanding Natural Area. And our Annual Pass got us in, so that was a bonus.

What a great place. A mile of wild, coastal headland, brilliantly conserved for sea wildlife of all kinds . . . and a historic lighthouse. An excellent interpretative centre, trails to follow, observation decks and lots of information. An exemplar of how this sort of thing can be done. It is possible to see migrating Gray Whales (not sure that we did), Harbor Seals and many different nesting seabirds (definitely). Here is a dense colony of Common Murre, a bird related to our Guillemot. They nest, as can be seen here, shoulder to shoulder on the flat tops of islands. They lay a single egg on the bare rock. I suppose they can’t roll very far with all the birds in the way.

In the afternoon we walked along the beach – it was very windy but glorious.
   
Tomorrow we leave this wonderful place and edge further north.