Beach Creature

Found on the beach at Bandon. Not sure what it is, but it kind of looks like a little Lobster. Anyone know what it is?

Update: Identified it as a California Beach Hopper (Orchestoidea californiana)

Pelagic Cormorant

Brandt's Cormorants were the predominant Cormorant at Bandon over the 4th, but there were a fair number of Pelagics too. Normally all black, most were displaying breeding colors with red at their cheeks and white on their flanks.

Brandt's Cormorant - Nests

More pics from Bandon and Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. I saw all three Cormorant species common to the area. These Brandt's Cormorants were probably the most common though there were many Pelagic also.
Their buff throats with tinges of blue were quite apparent, especially as they flew overhead. As can be seen in the second image one flew overhead with seaweed in its bill. I assume this was for nest building based on my research as their diet is fish and squid.
Finally, there were a couple of nests visible on the edge of the ledge of the north side of Middle Coquille Point Rock. It would be great to be able to some young Cormorant! I may have to check out Newport's Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area as it is a much shorter drive for me than Bandon.

Western Gull - Chicks

I didn't notice the Western Gull chicks at Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge at Bandon on the 4th, but the morning of the 5th they were hard to miss. Especially these two on the north side of Middle Coquille Point Rock. At first I just saw the one with Mom (or Dad) standing watch. Then another waddled up the rock next to the first. Lighting was tough with the brightly side lit white birds against the dark rocks, but the top two turned out pretty good.
Most sightings where much more distant on the top of Elephant Rock where I also saw many Common Murres and nesting Brandt's Cormorants.

Black Oystercatcher

During both mornings that I birded at Bandon the beach was experiencing low tide. This made it easier to get out among the rocks and see ocean birds. This Black Oystercatcher posed for me and another photographer while perched up on one of the many volcanic rocks that jut out of the sandy beach and ocean shore.
I love these birds. Their bright red-orange bill and eye-ring with yellow iris and fleshy colored legs with wrinkled joints, keeps me interested for hours.

Heermann's Gull

Late last August, I saw my first Heerman's Gulls at South Jetty in Fort Stephens State Park. I commented on how they were mostly transitioned to non-breeding plumage.
During my Bandon trip on the 4th, I had my seconding sighting of a Heermann's Gull, but this time, being early July, it was still in breeding plumage.
Also, if you look closely, at the top image especially, you can see just how worn most of its feathers are and that it has a few new primary feathers. Primaries 6 - 9 are new with 6 not fully grown in. It also looks like the primary coverts above the new primaries are new. I'm not versed enough on mottling yet to know exactly if this part of breeding change or an aging rotation. Not even sure if that makes sense. :-)

Eurasian Collared-Dove

I had seen Eurasian Collared-Doves in New Mexico and in Switzerland in the past year, but I had not seen any in Oregon until this past 4th in Bandon. We were driving along Beach Loop Road when I saw them perched on a high voltage line. I was doubly lucky as there was a wide shoulder at that point of the road to pull over and the Doves stuck around long enough for me to get some pictures.