Summer 2020 at the Beach

 I have not been doing much, really nobody has been doing much, during this era of a pandemic.  The emotions have gone up and down with the fatigue of not having a schedule and regular routine being interrupted.  The beach continues on with it's cycle of migrations.  Got some cool pictures of some usual visitors and some not previous seen visitors. Enjoy!

 Working from April 2020 forward...It's not often you see more than one eagle together but this must be a family.  There has been up to 4 gathered and feasting on remains.

Can't resist these little balls of fluff.  Sandpipers are fun.

The harbor in Astoria is always an ever changing scene of ships and water life.

This handsome fellow was on the beach.  Not a duck that I've seen before.  It might be a Lessor Scaup Drake.  There is a Greater Scaup Drake, I know you were wondering, they are pretty similar.

 

May 2020...Not sure what makes these squiqqly lines in the sand, reminds me of my journeys, lots of turns and backtracking and turning around again.

The eagles at the beach are always a great thing to see.  Not sure if this one is checking out its reflection or it's feet in the 2nd photo.  Anyone who knows me, knows I take a lot of feet pictures, usually of people, but animals have some interesting feet too.

Above, even a bird is not exempt from sinking in the sand.  The driftwood is in itself interesting pieces of art. 

June 2020.... Mating season, these terns are a noise bunch.  The best efforts of the male birds strutting, offering fish are not always met with a welcome (see picture 4).  She seems to be saying "Leave me alone already!"

Another eagle to spy on, including the feet.  Very adept at getting their prey.

Elk have been a regular sight in the dunes, sometimes on the beach and even down in the waves. I've only seen that once but have seen the left over foot prints in the sand.

Then there is what bored people will do.

Peek-a-boo with a seagull...

July 2020...

Geese aren't as common a find on the beach, but these seagulls didn't seem to mind the towering presence.

Sand dollars...sigh, what can I say, I am a super fan!

 

 

 August 2020...

 These guys are just cool, so stylen!

From a far couldn't tell what type of bird was hanging out with the seagulls.  Turns out it is juvenile seagulls, still sporting their sand grey feathers.

I have to admit to be a big fan of the brown pelicans.  First time this year got to seem them gathered on the beach with the seagulls.  (Side note, seagulls are very inclusive, they seem to allow anyone to hang with them.)

They are such contortionists!  Even though I chopped off the head in this picture, the lines just enthralls me.

The above is with "vibrant mode" on the camera.

Whales have been spotted!  Spotted a tornado of birds over the water and then the spouting of a whale.  It's fins and tail and nose were bouncing around, I was so excited looking through my camera, thinking I had pressed the record button....another day, not as active, still a good sighting of whales.

 

Below, another sighting of elk on the beach.  I turned away for a minute and when I turned around again they were gone, poof!