A trip to Port Orford, and the mystery solved

On Tuesday Jack and I headed up the Samuel Boardman Scenic Byway to check out the viewpoint waysides.

First up for us heading north on US 101 was the Whalehead Trail viewpoint.  I had brought the scope along in hopes of seeing breeding birds on the islands along the way.  Perhaps Jack is a junior bird nerd in the making?

Then we skipped up to Arch Rock Point.  Those white splotches on the ledges of the rock are indeed pelagic cormorant nesting sites. 

These cormorants build their nests out of seaweed and guano on the slim ledges of the rock face.  Jack had brought his 400mm lens along, so he was able to get a shot of the nesting birds.  You really can’t tell these birds are there with the naked eye.

Using the scope, I also spotted these three baby Western Gulls.  Can you see their grey fluffiness just to the right of center?  By this time, several other folks had arrived along the trail, and I went into USFWS interpreter mode.    All of these islands are part of Oregon Islands NWR, don’t you know.  They were all thrilled to take a look through the scope at the babies and the nesting cormorants.

A few minutes later, I heard the screaming alarm calls of some Black Oystercatchers a bit further down the overlook trail.  I hot-footed it over there to see this view.  The gulls and oystercatchers were having a fit, so I scanned the area and found two peregrine falcons looking for lunch.  The gulls were chasing after the peregrines, and the peregrines were dive bombing the gull and oystercatcher nesting areas.  What a ruckus!  I called over the other visitors, and we all got the thrill of watching from above.  That sure made my day!

Eventually, we made it to Port Orford and had lunch at a place I had picked out from reading other bloggers comments about it.  It was pretty tasty.  I had the local shrimp patty melt sandwich.  If I ever get back here, next time I think I’d just order their fish and chips, and maybe some clam chowder.  I’ve never had clam chowder, and missed my chance to try some here.

There were three historic places I wanted to visit while in Port Orford.  The first was the Cape Blanco Lighthouse.

We did get to see it from a distance.  The other two places were the historic Hughes House and the Lifeboat Station Museum, but wouldn’t you know it, all three were closed on Tuesdays.  Bummer!

As we headed back to Brookings we did stop in Gold Beach so Jack could get a picture of their post office.  He collects pictures of post offices around the country.  We also walked a very short way down the Oregon Coast Trail to view the Natural Bridges Cove.  It was a pretty good day trip all in all, and the weather really cooperated for a change.

Yesterday I had Jack over for NY BBQ using Cornish game hens, and we said our farewells until the next time our paths cross.  I’m guessing it will be another couple of years before that happens again.  It was a good visit, and we had a lot of laughs.  Safe travels, Jack.

As for the mystery of where Lesa disappeared to, I found out at the volunteer breakfast yesterday that it seems she has PTSD, and was feeling terribly claustrophobic in site B6.  I guess she just moved to a more open site, and is still volunteering here.  I just haven’t seen her out and about.  That’s a better outcome than my mind was conjuring up.

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy