Cape Nelson State Park
Cape Nelson
Cape Nelson State Park is a coastal park near Portland. As we were driving up toward the light station there were many interesting looking paths leading off into the coastal heath but as we had come to look for seabirds we didn't have time to explore these. When we arrived at the light station we were surprised to find Isabella's Cafe which is housed in the old light station stables so we were tempted into lunch and a cup of hot coffee before heading for the sea cliffs.
After finishing our smoked salmon, cream cheese and caper baguettes we took our scope out to the nearby blustery sea cliffs. Almost immediately we saw an albatross wheeling around on the ocean. We set up the scope and after some inspection and consulting our field guides we decided it must be a Black-browed Albatross. A short time afterwards we also identified a Shy Albatross, flocks of Short-tailed Shearwaters were also visible in the scope. Gannets are plentiful here and later we found out about a nearby Gannet rookery at Point Danger. There were also a couple of seals frolicking in the waves at the base of the cliffs.
This is a great spot to look for seabirds and also a good spot for lunch.