Date: 6/30/25 12:50 am From: Hans-Joachim Feddern via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] My Puffin Quest
My quest to see Tufted Puffins is a bit out of state. I try to make a yearly pilgrimage to the Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach, Oregon. My wife and I went there last week Tuesday through Friday (6/24 - 6/27) and we saw Tufted Puffins everyday. On the day of arrival we walked south on the beach, but even less than half a mile from the rock, we had not seen a single bird. I was starting to worry that we were too late this year, but then we saw a flying Common Murre. The closer we got, the more birds were seen. Now we all know about "finding a needle in a haystack", but finding a Tufted Puffin on Haystack Rock is a lot easier. Since they nest in burrows in the grassy areas, they are not that easy to spot with only heads showing, but with a little searching, you will find them. Sometimes one may be out in the open in a bare spot, even most open areas are occupied by hundreds of formally dressed Common Murres. With luck you may even find one of the chunky puffins flying around the rock. If you can't find one, there are lots of scopes there and somebody will let you look at one! Also nesting on Haystack Rock are Western Gulls, Pelagic Cormorants and Pigeon Guillemots. Harlequin Ducks - and in our case a single Black Oystercatcher - can be found on the smaller rocks south of the main rock. Just north of the rock, at Ecola Creek and on the beach, we saw 400 and maybe even 500 + Brown Pelicans every day. They are bathing and drinking in the creek. Another bonus were elks walking on the beach ( without surf boards !)
Good Birding!
Hans -- *Hans Feddern* Twin Lakes/Federal Way, WA <thefedderns...>
