Day 12 – 8/13 Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area & Lighthouse

I had just parked and started walking down the hill overlooking the beach when someone coming from the other way recommended I take care with my little dog because there was a coyote about half way down the hill “playing” with a mouse it had caught. Sure as anything he couldn’t be missed sitting on a grassy meadow on a cliff above the ocean. He let me take as many photos as I liked and meandered around. He was definitely thinking about “playing” with Jack and Jack wanted to play with him so I kept him close. We went to the bottom of the hill and took more photos. I got a little closer to the pigeon guillemots than I had before but they were still hundreds of yards away – one of these days I’ll get closer.

I went to the top of the hill by the lighthouse and captured shots of it, seals, and a sea lion. The cliffs were teeming with cormorants of which I’m told there are three different species. Then there were the Western Grebes who appeared to just be hanging together taking turns diving for fish. After leaving the lighthouse I drove north to Depoe Bay “The World’s Smallest Harbor“ with thoughts of more photographs and video but every parking space on both sides of the street were full. So… I ended up going back “home” had a beer or two, ordered a pizza and just stared at the ocean.

🐾 Jack’s Notes

Do you know how often it is that I get to play with one of those wild dogs, try and get their perspective, find out what life is like living free? Never – Imma file a complaint one of these days. That dog – that Mike called a coyote, was just hanging out in a small field having so much fun and I tried to run toward him but dad wasn’t having it. So, while he took photos I was relegated to smelling the stuff next to the road – boring!

What wasn’t boring though was walking up and down the hill – so many birds and so many fat animals laying on the rocks below. We ended up back in the car but it didn’t seem like forever this time and then we were back at the house – that marvelous house. I entertained Mike by barking at every single thing that moved outside – squirrels, chipmunks, birds, pets, people – it was exhausting trying to get that dude to open the door and run after everything. So… I took a nap then before long it was bed time. What a marvelous day!