Showdown

Showdown by Tygh
Showdown, a photo by Tygh on Flickr.

Today in Newport, we saw a sea lion resting next to the skin of a fish it had eaten earlier. This Western Seagull dropped in and casually asked if he was planning to finish his fish… he was.

The gull was skilled though and ended up with the prize. He ate the entire thing in under 30 seconds. Watching that was like watching a competitive eater down hotdogs.

Spoils
Spoils, a photo by Tygh on Flickr.

Treasures

Beach-combing is a time-honored tradition in our family. Shelly and I love to walk slowly up and down the shore looking for agates, shells, bits of coral, colorful rocks or whatever else catches our eyes. Agates are special treasures for us. They are visually interesting and also common enough to be regularly discovered. We have our favorite places to look for them. Sometimes the rocks are all covered with sand and we don’t see them. Other times, the beach looks like a gravel bed offering a rich supply of the opaque beauties.

Treasures by Tygh
Treasures, a photo by Tygh on Flickr.

Looking out

Looking out by Tygh
Looking out, a photo by Tygh on Flickr.

On vacation today, staying at Beverly Beach, Oregon.

Shell and I went for a long walk today and had a nice dinner at Mo’s at Otter Rock. Near the restaurant, there was a large colony of squirrels and they were extremely tame. I saw a whale spouting from the rim of the Devil’s Punchbowl. The house is nice and peaceful and it looks out over the ocean which always helps me see things from a different perspective.

In view of the horizon while standing at the line between the land and the sea, the concerns of the day don’t carry the same seriousness as they did before.

Juvie Spotted Towhee

Juvie Spotted Towhee by Tygh
Juvie Spotted Towhee, a photo by Tygh on Flickr.

As a juvenile, a Spotted Towhee looks very different from its adult parents. The adults have very dark backs, rusty-colored sides, white breasts, and red eyes as well. The juveniles are brown and nondescript. In fact, the first time I saw one, I had no idea what it was. One thing tip off is that the tails are essentially the same. There are white spots on the outer edges of the tails and these are the smoking gun that distinguishes them from any other large sparrow you might run into.

I See You

Our back yard is looking more wild now. Not everything we planted has filled in exactly as planned, but all of the plants and shrubs provide considerable concealment for the birds scavenging on the ground.

Safe and Sound by Tygh
Safe and Sound, a photo by Tygh on Flickr.

There were about a half dozen song sparrows scurrying around today and they seemed to be using the ground cover to hide from me. They were looking out, but they to stuck to their cozy little spots under the leaves. They weren’t singing, just quietly chattering with each other.

I See You
I See You, a photo by Tygh on Flickr.