The World Around Us, by correspondent, Bill Warner
the world around us by correspondent, Bill Warner
Hello folks...sorry about the long delay. Spring break is the current theme, and we
are blessed. The storm which is bringing floods to Northern Californis has largely
moved south of us. Our seas are calm enough that sports fishing boats have gone outside today--for what results I have yet to learn. Taking advantage of the bright sun I captured some photos of the ocean, including a neighbor's new boat distant
about two miles from the Lighthouse beach where I am standing. (While Mollie, my lab, did her thing and then raced up and down.) Probably the most significant
change since my last report is the remarkable reshaping of the sand on the beach.
We now have some small hills (12 feet or so high) at the upper end of the littoral.
In general there is more sand everywhere--the jetty rocks at low water have no
star fish clinging to the ones I can see. The low tide beach is flatter and shows
little water on top, indicating that the general level of the sand is higher than
in previous years. We have had more kite flyers this year than ever before. The
Pilots" appear to be elementary school age. It appears school holidays being out
more people, mostly Oregonians judging by the license plates, are taking advantage of the inexpensive vacations offerred by the near-at-hand beaches. Housing is tight.
Out-of-state visitors are significantly more numerous from Washington state, and lesser in number but pleasant, from British Columbia. Incidentally, if you are a
nocturnal listener of AM radio, try 1130. It is a news venue from Vancouver BC, and
gives an useful 4th dimension to our awareness of the flow of history. Spinning
the AM dial at 2 a.m. for example, will access Reno, KFBK in Sacramento (1530), KGO
is at 810 in San Francisco, and sometimes (we are too close) KOAC in Corvallis.
That Vancouver station has an hourly report on the swell, wind, etc. describing
marine weather. Also less dominance of Iraqui military developments, a relief.
Oregon is prosperous these days, but frugal as always. Gift shop mortality rates
are high. $3 gas takes that slim margin of discretionary income right off the top!
More later, but not SO o o..o .oo later this time.
The World Around Us, September 9, 2005
Welcome to Winchester Bay, Oregon as we begin enjoying our best season: Indian Summer.Morning fogs signal the ending of brisk northwesterlies, and commencement of luscious sunny days. Tidal variation invites locals to inspect the jetty rocks at low water. We can determine the success of matings by starfish, and the overwhelming fecundity of the blue mussel population. A feature of this latter development is the continuing struggle of the acorn barnacles to grow enough to keep their feeding end in the zone where food circulates for them as well as the blue mussels. The mussels create a carpet about 3-5 inches thick, which means
the barnacles have to extend the tube connecting them to the host rocks an equivalent distance. Sometimes their tubes are as much as 6 inches long! Summer was hard on the seabird populations--warmer temperatures for the Pacific inshore diminished the upflow of food-rich currents on which their diets depend. Its those brisk northwesterlies which generate the turnover necessary for the birds to prosper. A mature, elderly seal perished offshore and
came to our beach a month ago. His body is now almost entirely consumed by the host of scavengers. From it I retrieved the upper and lower jaws to show visitors the variety of teeth on which he depended for success in harvesting salmon and other fishes. What we would call "eye-teeth" are crucial. With them he "gaffs" his catch and then tosses it into the air so he can position it to grasp it with his whole mouth. Our fishermen complain the seals waste salmon because they typically consume only the central portion -- lacking elbows, forearms and hands the seal has few alternatives open to him. Besides which nothing is ever wasted in the ocean. If the seals leave some, it will be consumed by the crabs, if not even
earlier by gulls, cormorants or lesser fish.
Come to Winchester Bay in this glorious season, and walk the surfline with us. It's a healthy variation on your morning walk, and full of entertaining novelty! Bill Warner
Winchester Bay - A COOL Place to Be!
Welcome to The World Around Winchester Bay. It's 4 pm. on Thursday, June 5, 2003. We are enjoying 70 degree weather here on the harbor while Reedsport is sweltering with 100 degrees. The wind is variable, often from the East, which makes for lesser swells on the ocean, and calm waters in the harbor. If we choose to fish today it will be comfortable. It might even be possible to mooch along the south jetty for lings or a stray salmon.
A short two miles from where I am sitting is Lake Marie, soon to be the site of wild excitement. This weekend is "Free Fishing" in Oregon, and there are organized schooling efforts underway in many lakes along the coast, Lake Marie included. Fish and Game personnel have planted these lakes to assure the young folks they will be successful in their pursuit of the gorgeous rainbow trout.
After the weekend is ended their places will be taken by seniors in lawn chairs, wise beyond belief in the strategies which work on these "planters". Many friendships are born on the shores of Lake Marie, among the fraternity of the elders gathered there to relax and enjoy the beauty of the place. They share it with pink-toed salamanders, fat robins, pert chipmunks, and the local pirate-- an osprey who steals fish from novices unaware of his modus operandi. (When you attempt to land your fish, the fish is struggling on the surface, and then suddenly, WHAM, in an explosion of noise and water drops, the osprey dives from the tree above, his wings quickly extended to prevent immersion, as he struggles to gain altitude for the trip back to his feeding station or to his nest, with a trout in his talons.)
Meanwhile, a few yards above the fisherfolks, on the trail which circles the lake with a journey of one mile, the walkers, and even some joggers, pass intermittently, most inquiring "Any luck?" as they do so. On the west end of the lake, at a beach about the size of tennis court, and consisting of attractive white sand, the young mothers of the Coast Guard family housing community tend their young ones and exchange news of transfers, and other developments important to them. The Coast Guard is undergoing a major adjustment of programs, full of opportunity for advancement for the husbands and fathers of those on the beach. Our acquaintance with these young people greatly reassures us--their responsibilities will be well discharged.
The onset of summer brings with it an explosion of "garage sales". The Riverbend community in Reedsport has 13 households participating at 8 a.m. on Saturday. Last weekend the community of Fairview in Coos County (south of us) had a similar collective effort. The search for bargains creates opportunities for more than smart purchases--it unites folks who haven't been "in touch" during the rainy season. As people age their hobbies and sporting activities change, making the appeal of some equipment less than in years previous, and improving the demand for new equipment to match new pursuits. Dozens of fishing poles will have new owners by Monday, I predict.
At 9 am. today I fed about 90,000 salmon smolts (juveniles) their breakfast. It was a shocking experience because the water had become warmer, going to 57 degrees from 52 degrees the previous day, and killing off numbers way beyond those I was used to.
One pen had 25 "morts". 57 degree-water makes for a pleasant day for us humans, but it can stress these little fishes. (I just received news that we had to release all of the fish so they can fight for survival in better conditions. We are three weeks ahead of last year so maybe we'll have warmer summer.) Our temperature in the shade is now 60 degrees, down 10 degrees in the last hour.
