Brandt’s Cormorant, Heceta Trail, 5-23-10, continued. Lone Cormorant working on its cliffside nest. Clickable

Turkey vultures, Heceta Trail, 5-23-10, continued. No doubt about the first photo, but I’m not sure about the identity of the second photo, which may or may not be a turkey vulture. Several hawks are also in this area. Clickables

Turkey vultures, Heceta Trail, 5-23-10, continued. Turkey vultures in flight over the ocean. They can soar for hours on thermals. Clickables

Final photos, Heceta Head Trail, 5-23-10, continued. Clickables

Brown Pelicans and Brandt's Cormorants share space on hillside


Cormorants, Pelicans and Common Murres roost on offshore rock


Heceta Head Lighthouse dates to 1894

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, north end of Yaquina Bay Bridge off US 101, Newport, Oregon, 5-24-10. Short walk from parking lot to lighthouse. Hike as long and as far as you want on nice beach.



Turkey Vulture west of lighthouse


Lighthouse and Coast Guard observation station

Yaquina Head Lighthouse and Outstanding Natural Area, three miles north of Newport, 5-24-10. This was easily our favorite spot on the Oregon Coast. There’s a wonderful Interpretive Center operated by the Bureau of Land Management. There are five easy-to-moderate and very short trails (all less than a mile) that lead to the lighthouse, beach and atop a hill. There is a $7 per vehicle entrance fee.


Brown Pelicans in flight over Colony Rock, Yaquina Head

Yaquina Head continued, 5-24-10. As many as 65,000 seabirds gather here at Colony Rock and other offshore rocks and bluffs for the springtime nesting season. Common Murres were clustered shoulder-to-shoulder on the rock. It was an impressive sight. Clickables

Colony Rock


Rocky coastlines are typical nesting habitat


Nesting colony

Yaquina Head, continued, 5-24-10, More views of Common Murres jockeying for space in their nesting grounds. Most are standing upright. Clickables