Seal Rock State Park Gallery

Seal Rock was named for the harbor seals that pull out onto the rocks a little ways out into the Pacific, but most visitors come for the accessible tidepools.

Black Oystercatchers

Walk Along The Beach An oystercatcher strolls along the beach as the tide starts to come in.

	Fresh Water A black oystercatcher walks along the beach. While oystercatchers are at home in the shallow waters at the ocean's edge, this one is actually walking in fresh water draining into the ocean. It was one of a pair of oystercatchers that allowed me to get good views of them, as long as there weren't any nearby dogs.
	Don't Do It! Life Is Worth The Living! A despondent oystercatcher tries to drown its sorrows by thrusting its head under water and ending it all. Actually it was preparing for its saltwater bath by letting the incoming wave wash over its head.
	Bath Time One of a pair of oystercatchers that were bathing in the incoming tide. One wave had come in much farther than the others and soaked both the oystercatchers and my feet. One of the oystercatchers immediately flew off towards (what I'm assuming was) its nest, while the one in this picture hung around for a while before joining its mate.

Harbor Seals

The park's namesakes can be seen from the beach on the rock outcroppings or swimming in the ocean.

	Now How Do I Get Down? With the tide out, these harbor seals were quite a ways out of the water. The rock is isolated by itself with a sharp drop off, it is only accessible to them when the tide is in.
	Unfazed One thing that always amazes me about watching harbor seals swim is how easily they manage themselves even in the strong currents and crashing surf near the shore's edge.

Mussels

Not Much Elbow Room It's a good thing mussels don't need much personal space, as they spend their lives in a dense pack attached to a large rock, such as this group exposed by low tide. Seal Rock is my second favorite spot on the Oregon coast to watch tidepools, my favorite is Yaquina Head but the tidepools at each park have a different feel to them.

Starfish

Brothers in Arms The receding tide left these two high and dry above the tidepool, arm in arm, their forbidden starfish love exposed.

The Ocean

Two and the Infinite One A couple watches the waves crash against the rocks. The waves weren't so large on this day, but in the right weather the ocean can get pretty worked up in this section of the beach.