On the Road in Oregon

Pale Swallowtail on Columbine

This large swallowtail was hungrily feeding on this red columbine flowers on Mary's Peak, Coast Range, Oregon.

Tidepool Beauties

The colorful sea anemones were in the tidepools next to Haystack Rock on Cannon Beach, Oregon.

Under the Bridge

I saw a fishing boat heading into the Newport Marina, and knew it would have to go under the Yaquina Bridge, so waited for the right moment.

Yaquina Bridge

This view of Yaquina Bridge in Newport, Oregon, was taken from the north end of the bridge.

Fly On By

This Tufted Puffin was flying by Haystack Rock. Not a good view, but flying puffins aren't easy to capture, rapid wingbeat and all.

Haystack Rock

This large monolith named Haystack Rock is on Cannon Beach. It is 235 feet high, and acts as a nesting site for Tufted Puffins, Common Murres, Pelagic Cormorants, and Western Gulls. In a very low tide like this one, there is no surf on the beach side of the rock.

Tufted Puffin

This a a terrible photo of this puffin, but was one of the few I got face-first. He was flying down from Haystack, heading out, and I was glad to get even this much. It's a special bird for me to see, and until/unless I get better shots, I'm showing this.

Low Tide at Indian Beach

Indian Beach is around a point or two from Cannon Beach. This low tide morning allowed people to walk far out on the sand, which had been covered by surf not long before. The fog bank hovered at the horizon line.

Walking on Indian Beach

Low tide allowed a walk on Indian Beach.

Cannon Beach View

Low tide at Cannon Beach.

Low Tide at Cannon Beach

This pano view of Cannon Beach shows it at low tide. Haystack rock in the left mid-background, is no longer surrounded by water. This made birding around this seabird nesting site much easier. Common Murres and Tufted Puffins were flying overhead.

Iris Solo

This beautiful wild iris was found at Indian Beach, part of Ecola State Park, Oregon.

Astoria Beauty

Astoria is the farthest north Oregon Coastal town, and has been called "little San Francisco". It has 150 Victorian homes, many of which have been beautifully maintained, and which cover the hills above the Columbia River.

Colorful Doorway

This doorway is from one of the great houses in Astoria, Oregon.

The Yellow Church

In addition to the Victorian homes, Astoria also had some really different and and interesting churches. This was one of them.

The Big Brown House

Another Astoria home.

Wild Iris

June in Oregon is the time for wild iris in bloom. While driving up the mountain road toward Mary's Peak, whole hillsides were covered with these little irises. What a treat!