June 9th to June 15th 2014

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Daily Low Tides

Monday, June 9th; shift extended 30 minutes due to tide
2.5' @ 4:07 PM

Tuesday, June 10th
2.6' @ 4:58 PM

Wednesday, June 11th; shift extended 45 minutes
-0.5' @ 6:08 AM

Thursday, June 12th
-1.0' @ 6:54 AM

Friday, June 13th
-1.3' @ 7:40 AM

Saturday, June 14th; two shifts to cover both low tides
-1.5' @ 8:25 AM
2.4' @ 8:21 PM

Sunday, June 15th
-1.4' @ 9:10 AM

Notes from the Week

The Black Oystercatchers took center stage this week. Susan Glarum captured a fabulous series of photos of our favorite oystercatcher couple sharing parental duties at Haystack Rock. This nesting pair in the saddle gives us a great opportunity to observe the lengths to which birds go to successfully hatch their eggs. One adult is almost always on the nest to keep the eggs protected from the elements and predators. The exchange between parents is quick so as to expose the eggs for only a short time. The couple was spotted chasing away another Black Oystercatcher early in the week. Later in the week, two gulls harassed the incoming Oystercatcher who did not go immediately to the nest. Photos and captions by staff member Susan Glarum.

"I'm waiting Dear."

"I'm coming, I'm coming"

The Exchange

"I'll see you in about an hour." 

"I always have to rearrange things after you've been here."

School group season has come to an end with only Astoria Elementary School second-graders visiting this week. The highest visitor count for the week was 130 on Sunday morning.

Creature Highlights

Birds
  • Black Oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani) - Black Oystercatchers still on their nest in the saddle and swapping nest-sitting duties.
  • Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) - Bald eagles continue to visit Haystack Rock; 4 eagles were sighted together on Monday.
  • Tufted Puffin ((Fratercula cirrhata) - Tufted Puffins were photographed in the grassy areas of Haystack Rock
  • Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba) - Guillemots were spotted mating
  • Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) - About 6 Harlequin Ducks on the south side 
  • Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus)
  • Peregrine Flacon (Falco Peregrinus) 
Invertebrates
  • Shaggy Mouse Nudibranch (Aeolid papillosa) - This nudibranch has a whitish or pinkish body with brown or gray spots. They have colorless or brown projections, typically with a bald spot down the middle.  It feeds once per day on sea anemones.
  • Ochre Star (Pisaster ochraceus) - Sea Star spawning (see picture below)
  • Kelp Crab (Pugettia producta) - This crab is generally olive in color; adults may have varying amounts of red or yellow. They have a smooth, shield-shaped carapace. They are usually seen in or on seaweed in the intertidal to a depth of 240 feet.
  • Decorator Crab (species unknown) - Baby decorator crab in the tidepools
  • Purple Shore Crab (Hemigrapsus nudus) - This crab ranges from purple to red-brown in color and typically has red-purple spots on the claws. There is no hair or spines on the shell or legs. This crab is found under rocks and amid seaweed in the mid and low intertidal zones.
Photos From Haystack Rock



Tufted Puffins - Hanging out in the Grass!
Photo by Susan Glarum


Tufted Puffins - Taking off!
Photo by Susan Glarum


Purple Shore Crab
Photo by Jenee Pearce


Sea Star Eggs
Photo by Susan Glarum

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