July 21, 2005: Coastal Oregon (Oregon Aquarium, Cascades Raptor Center)

We started the morning with a tour of the Cascades Raptor Center, in Eugene. This is a local Wildlife Rehabilitation and Educational facility that is very well run! We had enjoyable visit viewing both their educational raptors, and their extensive bird feeding facilities! (PINE SQUIRREL, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, SPOTTED TOWHEE, DARK-EYED (OREGON) JUNCO, STELLER JAY, and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. We also had a flyover RED-TAILED HAWK.

After leaving here, we had a quick lunch at Scholtsky's Deli in Eugene, and headed over the coastal range to the coast, ending up at the Oregon Aquarium in Newport. This was also a great place. The aquarium is well worth visiting for the sea life it houses, but it also has an awesome seabird aviary! (There are several pictures of the aviary below).

Next stop was a visit to the Town of Newport, which is also nice. We were welcomed to town by a statue commemorating "Nessie" the Yaquina Bay sea monster. We had dinner at Mo's, a famous local seafood restaurant, and then headed to Yaquina Head lighthouse. The lighthouse and beach here were cool, but the experience was tempered by the temperature in the mid 50's and seemingly gale force winds. Nevertheless we saw the lighthouse, and walked to the beach, where we found CALIFORNIA GULLS, WANDERING TATTLER, and many thousands of COMMON MURRES on the nearby rocks!

After a beautiful sunset in Newport, we headed east, and north, to metro Portland, where we stayed the evening.

We photographed this butterfly at Cascades Raptor CenterNewport's "Nessie" statue

OREGON AQUARIUM PHOTOS:

OREGON AQUARIUM SEABIRD AVIARY PHOTOS:Above three: Tufted PuffinsBlack OystercatcherRhinocerus AukletPigeon Guillemot (above and below)

Around Newport:Above and Below: A Tsunami is a real danger in coastal Oregon and Washington

US-20 begins here and heads east from Newport, ending in Boston, MA. It also goes through our hometown of Alden, NY.

Yaquina Head and Bay (Newport, Oregon) Photos:Yaquina Head Lighthouse Above and Below: The rocks on the coast housed many seabirds (Murres, Cormorants, Gulls, etc.) Some of the sealife on the beachSunset at Newport

BIRD AND ANIMAL PHOTOS

Cascades Raptor Center:Pine SquirrelSteller's JayRufous Hummingbird Red-Breasted Nuthatch Dark-Eyed Junco (Oregon Race) Red-Tailed HawkBlack-Headed Grosbeak Wandering Tattler (Yaquina Beach)