Catching Oysters

Not me personally, but this guy was...............

A strange bird to say the least...a black oyster catcher.



I saw him hobble and drag a wing as if wounded and another came in to chirp and encourage him to get to safety. He tried to hide in the rocks, but with a bright red-orange beak..he was a dead give-away. Then finally, he and the other took to flight and I realized they were probably luring me away from their catch or maybe even a nest.




Not to worry, I had bigger things on my mind. I was going to try my best to make it to Pirate's Cove today. Thai said I could walk the beach if the tide was out far enough and if I walked fast. It was quite a ways and I did not want to get caught out there if the tide came back in, he said there were sheer bluffs and no where to go.


The view down to Sand Dollar Beach. A little misty and cloudy, but a warm 44 degrees and very little wind. The tide was going to be out at 3:30 and I certainly have plenty of daylight these days, even if a little overcast.

Pirates Cove is the farthest cove to the left and the quickest way to get there is beach travel. I blew right past Sand Dollar beach, took a quick picture of the run-off from the ravine and headed on to the next cove.

Salmon Ranch was sleepy and quiet except for the oyster catchers. Saw a few otters at play near the rocks, but didn't bother trying to get a picture, too far away and I had too far to go...



Had to take a quick break and a few shots here....there may not be roses to stop and smell, but there is always nature and the beauty here. I found a beautiful sand dollar on the beach, only to put it in my pocket and crush it as I lay on the ground trying to take pictures of flowers..way to go sister, it's not like they are as plentiful as the rocks around here!!!


I wonder, if all roads lead to Rome, do all streams run into the sea? They do around here, with the run off from the mountains, the streams are plentiful and seem to be getting bigger and readying themselves for the annual salmon runs.

And then I rounded the next cove only to see how far I had to go...yikes...that is still about another hour hike over these ankle traps and my hip was starting to rebel. I tore a muscle in my right hip about 2 weeks ago and this was the first trip or exercise I had done since mending and something is telling me I am not mended yet.

So, I did some beach combing and found 4-5 great pieces of petrified wood, loaded a few in my back pack and left the rest. Maybe they will get washed back to sea and land somewhere else for someone else's pleasure.

I turned and headed back enjoying more of the view and really took my time as I ambled (hobbled) back the way I came. This time I did stop to smell the wild flowers and squish my sand dollar taking their pictures...bummer for the sand dollar, but look at the beautiful flowering plants creeping up all over the tundra...

The lupine are in different stages of bloom and even the bumble bees are out doing their jobs keeping them pollinated.

Early lupine bloom.





This woolly looking plant is called Woolly Lousewart....you can suck the nectar from the flowers and it is also used in salads as a garnish.

Moss berry blooms.

Early geraniums.

Not sure what this variety is. Thought at first Fireweed, but I was informed not....but the fireweed does grow in abundance in the tundra. The shoots are only inches high now, but will soon be 2-3 feet tall.


This is a Cardimine species also known as the Cuckoo flower. It is an herb that supposedly tastes like watercress.

I know there are many more flowering plants that will come out in due time, for a short time and grace the landscape with their beauty. All in God's timing!