Ochre sea star – MacKenzies on the Road

Tide pools are fascinating! We spent another day wandering around, peeking under rocks, peering into little pools and gawking at the amazing scenery. This time we were at Strawberry Hill, a little pull-off on Hwy 101. You can barely fit maybe 10 cars into this little lot, so we went early and enjoyed a picnic lunch and a thermos of coffee while we waited for the tide to ease on out. Our hunt was happily rewarded with some more pictures of the abundant life that lives at the edge of the rocks and the oceans, what a hardy bunch of little critters.

Sea Star, Giant Green Anemone, and Goose Barnacles

There were about 30 Sea Lions lounging on the rocks of their own little island. They were soaking up the sun on this beautiful day.

This little one kept an eye on me. I think he was worried I might dive into the ocean and swim over for a visit.

Now this is a rare species for Oregon, Hominum Scotus, from the northwestern edge of Scotland. I wonder how he ended up on the Pacific coast?

Tidbit: There is a very different type of pool in Colorado called Strawbery Bank Hot Spring. We highly recommend it if you ever get out that way.

A tidalpool that is. Being good Vermont kids we grew up playing in the woods, brooks, and ponds of our childhood. Well we recaptured that feeling today when we hit the Heceta tidepool at low tide and proceded to spend a couple of hours dodging waves, getting our feet wet, and peering into the tidepools for urchins, anemonies, and starfish.

Giant green anemones closed and drooling and Ochre sea stars (starfish)

Tidbit: On our way back we stopped at an overlook and saw our first spout from a Gray Whale as they pass on their northward migration to Alaska. We hope to spot more in the coming days. Maybe by fluke and we’ll even get a fluke pic!

Tag: Ochre sea star

Strawberry Hill

A Day at the Pool!