As Amanda explains quite nicely in her previous blog post, research is not always glamorous, and we don’t always see the species we’ve come out to the field to study. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t other cool species out there to spot! Here are some common (and uncommon) visitors to some of our research sites this summer.
Also, if you continue to the bottom, we’ve included some cool videos of (1) gray whale sharking behaviour, (2) Gray whale swimming (top down full body view), and what it looks and sounds like when we’re doing one of our close-in focal follows. Enjoy!
A very unexpected, but very welcome visitor! Blue Whale spotted off Boiler Bay August 10.Often in pairs, we’ve started seeing more of these California sea lions lately as they come back north from the breeding grounds further south.A young crow fluffs up in the breezeHumpback Whale which has been hanging out around Depoe Bay for the past two weeks. Its split dorsal fin makes it easy to recognize! Notice the darker color than the grays we usually see.A Great Egret spotted at Graveyard PointA long billed curlew drops by for a visitThis chick waits patiently for parents to bring a mealWe see the Osprey multiple times a day in Port Orford as there are a couple of nesting pairs with chicks to feed.Our Oystercatchers at Boiler Bay have also successfully fledged a pair of chicks while we’ve been watching!Brown PelicansThere are at least two pairs of Peregrines with chicks in Port Orford as well. This one brings home a catch! (possibly murre or guillemot chick?)Peregrine FalconPigeon Guillemots at Port Orford
If you remember a few weeks ago, we shared photos of gray whale “sharking” behaviour. Well, now we have video! Enjoy:
Here’s what it looks like from the top of Graveyard Bluff when a whale swims by below us!
We get really excited by this behavior because its positive proof that the whales are successfully foraging!
and here is a fluke!
We’ll be back soon with more updates from Port Orford.
Truly amazing what you might see on any given day at the ocean.