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CoastWatch Mile 100 County Coos Description Johnson Creek, Bandon Beach Boundaries N 43° 6.332', W 124° 26.122' to N 43° 5.549', W 124° 25.977' Google Maps Nearby Roads, Directions to/from, Google photos, Satellite image, Terrain overlay OPRD Map Coquille River (Face Rock) to New River (1) Vehicles • Motor vehicle travel is prohibited from the northerly beach access parking area at Bullards Beach State Park (43° 08.9484', Mile 104), southerly to north of China Creek (43° 04.3938', Mile 98), except as follows: Motor vehicles are allowed at any time on the ocean shore at the south jetty of the Coquille River between (43° 07.3566', Mile 102) and (43° 07.3398', Mile 102). Weather Current Weather Conditions at nearby stations (may take a minute or two on a dialup connection) Tides The NOAA Tide Predictions site may be found here. Click on the station nearest to your location to see predicted tides in graphical and tabular formats. Photo Face Rock Picnic Waste   3/26/13 Fire waste and picnic trash from prior night; 5 x 5-foot area of partially burned paper, beer bottles and plastic bags. Area was within sight of the Face Rock Wayside access steps. Doug C

35 REPORTS FOR MILE 100: JohnnyCN May 1, 2013 12:00 AM   Wind was the dominating factor in today's CoastWatch walk. Wind blew the sand, and the sand covered everything or swept the beach clean, thus accounting for the fact that I have almost nothing to report on the beach. Wind, I think, also explains the lack of humans, sea animals and sea birds. Trying to walk against the wind was the most exciting experience I had. Wind, wind, wind.   MORE  Doug C Mar 26, 2013 10:30 AM   Spring break increased visitors. Ten people (families) were observed walking the beach. Fire remains and trash most likely from the night before were found within sight of the Face Rock access steps in violation of Oregon law. We removed and disposed of the debris. Shells, animal casings, Kelp/algae, small rocks, wood pieces and plastic pellets in the driftline. One dead Common Murre and one dead Black-legged Kittiwake.   MORE    Face Rock Picnic Waste    Description: Fire waste and picnic trash from prior night; 5 x 5-foot area of partially burned paper, beer bottles and plastic bags. Area was within sight of the Face Rock Wayside access steps. Location: Roughly 50 yards SW of Face Rock access steps beachnut Dec 13, 2012 7:30 AM   King Tides have slammed trees and other debris along this normally woodless beach between Johnson Creek and Face Rock Overlook. What appears to be a segment of a wooden dock, in fact, is jammed up Johnson Creek inland just past where it bends to reach the sea. The small creek at the base of Tish-A-Tang is crammed with driftwood and impassable to foot traffic and, I think, the beach ATV from Fish and Wildlife. In any case, there were lots of fresh tire tracks street-side of the beach creek. Not much litter or animal fatalities evident.   MORE  beachnut Jul 19, 2012 6:00 AM   An appalling number of dead Common Murre (177) littered the high-tide line on the mile south of Face Rock State Park. All but three were babies showing no sign of injury. In 12 years of daily beach walking, I've never seen a dead baby murre, let alone this number. It was like coming onto a field after the battle. The crows and gulls were already feasting on the fallen.   MORE  JohnnyCN Apr 21, 2012 12:30 PM   On a beautiful, warm, spring day the beach provided rest and recreation for over twenty people and their dogs. The beach itself had been swept nearly clean by high tide earlier in the day. Intermittent driftwood, mostly small, made up the wrackline. There was very little wildlife, even birds, to be seen and no physical changes to report.   MORE  JohnnyCN Jun 23, 2011 2:15 PM   A brisk wind pushed me down the nearly deserted beach. Only 10 other people on beach; 3 sunbathing, one taking photographs and 6 horseback riding. No dogs or vehicles on the beach. Small shells and shell fragments along with small stones in driftline. No new significant changes in or on the beach.   MORE  JohnnyCN Mar 22, 2011 10:40 AM   Sunny but windy day, and the wind was quite cold. The beach had been swept clean of almost everything: sticks, kelp, etc. There were a few small stones along the high tide line. Only 11 people and 3 dogs present. A very few birds, including gulls; however, there were a number of Common Murre on Face Rock, and a single Mallard duck flew over. A dead, desiccated sea lion by the stairs up to the parking lot at the north end of Mile 100.   MORE  JohnnyCN Sep 30, 2010 10:00 AM   On a beautiful sunny day with almost no wind, fifteen people were walking the beach at mile 100. There was little wildlife, except for the occasional gull, until the mouth of the creek at the far south end of the mile where a large number of unidentified gulls had congregated. One dead Common Murre was found in the high tide line as were a few jellyfish, many small stones, large clumps of sea weed, especially bull kelp, and an unusually large number of bird feathers.   MORE  JohnnyCN Jun 30, 2010 9:50 AM   Given that it was summer vacation, there was very little human activity on the beach--25 people,mostly walkers, and only 7 dogs. There were also 4 horseback riders. This absence of activity was echoed in nature itself. The beach had been swept clean of most debris with only bits of seaweed, small stones and a few animal casings showing. Even bird life was relatively quiet with just a few (20?) Brown Pelicans flying off shore, 5-10 crows strutting the beach and about 40 gulls where the creek empties into the ocean. No sea lions or seals seen. The beach itself was flat and featureless. Perhaps the lack of beach activity can be explained by the cold wind that was blowing from the northwest, although the day was pretty warm, at least by northwest standards.   MORE  Doug C May 30, 2010 2:00 PM   Calm sunny day. Lots of people (30) walking and playing in the sand out for Memorial Day weekend. One flag football game and one family picnic. Beaches were clean with shells, sand shrimp and some crab molt. Not much in the way of physical changes other than Johnson Creek outlet at the beach moved about 100 yards north relative to a year ago. Found two invertebrates that I had not seen before. They were about 10 and 6 inches long and were Polychaete (paddle-footed) worms.   MORE    Invertebrate: Polychaete (paddle-footed) worm    Description: Uncoiled length of animal was about 10 inches. Width was 1/4 inch. Polycheate worms are mainly marine. They are segmented, and each segment has two fleshy flaps tipped with bristles that are used as oars and levers. The anterior proboscis is everted. Location: Mid-mile 100, in sand at the low high-tide line ~ 5.0 feet JohnnyCN Mar 23, 2010 2:20 PM   Despite sunshine, a cold north wind interfered with vacationing families' beach explorations on spring break. Still, there were 45 humans and 11 dogs present or climbing the stairs to leave during the 45 minutes I was there, probably the most I've ever seen here. Little wildlife other than 60 unapproachable gulls massed at the creek mouth and birds over the ocean too distant to identify. Minor sandslides around cliffs and foredunes. Many horse tracks, probably from the nearby riding stable, including eight horses and riders that I encountered. What I found most disturbing were vehicle tracks--probably pickup--running the length of my mile on the beach.   MORE  Doug C Nov 30, 2009 4:40 PM   We were attracted to the mile because we saw hundreds of birds taking flight at once only to discover when we got to the edge of the overlook that two separate individuals were approaching a still large flock of Brown Pelican and gulls resting on the beach. In all they scattered 2/3rds of the flock that could have originally numbered 1000 birds. The offshore rocks at Mile 101 are very crowded with them.   MORE  JohnnyCN Nov 3, 2009 2:15 PM   Despite being a sunny, warm, nearly windless day, the beach at Mile 100 was nearly empty. Only 2 people and 1 dog. High tide a few hours earlier than my visit had swept the beach nearly clean, only a few strands of bull kelp in the wrack line, along with a small miscellaneous of ocean detritus. Twenty-three shorebirds--probably surfbirds squabbled and played on off-shore rocks while Brown Pelicans flew up and down the coast over the breakers. One Harbor Seal. All in all, a beautiful, quiet day on Mile 100.   MORE  D Bilderback Jul 5, 2009 9:30 AM   We were walking on the beach with Manfred Welsch when we came across a wash up of some very large comb jellies on the beach. These animals superficially look like a jelly (fish) but are members of an entirely different Phylum. Jellies belong to the Phylum Cnidaria along with the corals and sea anemones. Comb jellies belong to the Phylum Ctenophora. These animals have gelatinous bodies and swim using rows of structures called comb plates. A comb plate is actually thousands of individual cilia fused together at their bases. These particular comb jellies are Beroe abyssicola and are usually found living in deep water. They are pink, red or purple and can be as large as 13 cm (15 in.) in length. Apparently, they were washed ashore after a strong ocean upwelling brought them up from deeper waters.   MORE    Beroe abyssicola on the beach.    Location: Middle of Mile 100 Beroe abyssicola showing the light green cilia bands.    Description: The iridescent green color are the bands of cilia along the ctenophore's length. These cilia help it move in the water. Location: Middle of Mile 100 With the light behind, you can see the cilia bands.    Location: Middle of Mile 100 A closer look at the cilia bands of Beroe abyssicola    Location: Mile 100 JohnnyCN Jun 26, 2009 9:30 AM   On an extraordinarily low-tide day, there were more people (23) than usual on Mile 100, but all seemed well-behaved and to be enjoying themselves despite the cold wind. Most of them were adults walking, with a few children and their parents checking out tide pools. There were also nine horseback riders. Eight cars were in the parking area when we arrived. There was one dead sea lion--probably the same one that's been there for several weeks because it was roughly in the same place--and a couple of dead gulls. The north wind had swept the beach pretty clean. Even though the low-tide was exceptional, we saw nothing unusual. Shells, animal casings, small rocks and wood pieces in driftline.   MORE  D Bilderback Jun 9, 2009 8:44 AM   John Noland reported that there was a Harbor Seal as well as a California Sea Lion near Face Rock Wayside on his Mile 100. As part of our volunteer work for the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, we take simple measurements on dead marine mammals and send photos and the report back to Jim Rice, the Coordinator for the Marine Mammal Stranding Network. We found these animals and three other very interesting finds on this day. Walking south, and just opposite the Tish and Tang access, we found a dead Guadalupe Fur Seal. This was reported to Jim Rice. Just south of this was a dead Black-footed Albatross carcass of two wings and a foot. We called Madeline Vander Heyden (USFWS) to ask if it was okay to collect this and bring it in for display at the Bandon Marsh Refuge, and she said, "Yes." Finally, as we were going back along the dry sand, we found a patch of Owl Clover (Castilleja ambigua) blooming along a wet bank just north of the Tish and Tang access.    MORE    Guadalupe Fur Seal, Dorsal view    Description: This species is not commonly found on our beaches. It normally found along the coasts of Southern and Central California and Baja California. However, since 2006 there have been some reports of juvenile animals coming into the Pacific Northwest. Location: N 43.09960 W124.43296 Dorsal side of the front flipper, Guadalupe Fur Seal    Description: The fur on the front flipper of this species extends almost to the tip of the flipper and is a distinquishing mark of the species. Location: N 43.09960 W124.43296 Hind Flipper, Guadalupe Fur Seal    Description: This species has long narrow hind flippers. Location: N 43.09960 W124.43296 Guadalupe Fur Seal teeth closeup    Location: N 43.09960 W124.43296 Narrow jaw of a Guadalupe Fur Seal    Location: N 43.09960 W124.43296 Guadalupe Fur Seal fur and external ear.    Location: N 43.09960 W124.43296 Guadalupe Fur Seal, ventral side.    Location: N 43.09960 W124.43296 Black-footed Albatross wings and foot    Description: This Black-footed Albatross wings and foot is an unusual find on our beaches. Here it is shown with a 60 inch (152 cm) measuring tape to give you an idea of how large the wingspan is on this bird. Location: N43.10105 W124.43304 Black-footed Albatross wing detail    Location: N 43.10105 W124.43304 Black-footed Albatross ventral side    Location: N43.10105 W124.43304 Dead bloated California Sea Lion    Description: This carcass was examined and reported to the MMSN. The prominent bump on the head is the "sagittal crest" that is a characteristic of this species. Location: N 43.10323 W 124.43437 Dead Harbor Seal pup    Description: This young Harbor Seal pup has been reported to the MMSN. Location: N 42.10394 W 124.43452 Owl Clover (Castilleja ambigua)    Description: This pretty plant was blooming along side a small stream close to the foredune. Location: North of Tish and Tang access Owl Clover (Castilleja ambigua) overview    Description: This shows the group of Owl Clover (Castilleja ambigua) blooming. Location: North of Tish and Tang access. JohnnyCN Jun 6, 2009 12:00 AM   On June 6, a large dead California Sea Lion just a short distance from the stairs at Face Rock dominated the beach; however, a dead baby sea lion was nearby. A Turkey Vulture was feeding on it. Further south down the beach a quarter-mile was another skin which was the same color, shape and size as the baby sea lion, but lack of head or body parts made absolute identification uncertain. It too was being fed on by a TV. I also found 4 of what I believe were dead and mostly eaten Common Murres, although again there was so little left of them that absolute identification was impossible. A turkey vulture was feeding on one of them. I found many small crabs and adult-sized crabs in the high tide line as well. Shells, kelp/algae, small rocks and wood pieces also in driftline. Overall, death and its followers--the turkey vultures--ruled Mile 100 today. Moderate human impact (13).   MORE  Doug C Apr 25, 2009 3:00 PM   High clouds burned off during our walk on this mile. Wind from the northwest was moderate (10 mph or so). Beach was relatively clean of human debris; wrackline was shells and small rocks. We were surprised by 8 brown pelicans flying overhead since it seemed early for them to return. Whimbrels (4), and Semipalmated Plovers (dozen) mixed with probably Western Sandpipers (dozen) were also seen. All of the 15 people observed were walking with no problems noted. Dune erosion at the south end of the mile at Johnson Creek was more severe than photographed and documented in the Mile 99 report (north end of mile) from several months ago.   MORE  JohnnyCN Mar 27, 2009 1:15 PM   On a day of sunshine at the end of spring break, there were 31 people on the beach--a comparatively high number for this area. Most of these people were walking. There was an unusually high amount of plastic bottles and other plastic materials, ranging from pinpoint size to dime size, in the wrackline and higher on the beach. Shells, small rocks and wood pieces also were present in the wrack. There were few birds present and only one dead gull.   MORE  JohnnyCN Jan 29, 2009 2:40 PM   Very little activity on a warmish, sunny day--Only 3 humans and 2 dogs walking. The driftline was composed of driftwood, kelp piles, and small stones. One dead immature gull. A new small creek was coming out of the hillside and meandering to the ocean. Johnson Creek had moved further south than in the summer. Two small flocks of shorebirds flew over as well as a few gulls. Overall, very little was happening.   MORE  JohnnyCN Oct 21, 2008 2:15 PM   The hard wind and blowing sand seemed to have swept the beach clean of humans, birds, even high-tide detritus. In 38 years of walking the beach, I have never had so much sand blow into my face and mouth. Only 5 other people besides myself on the beach, only one flock of 40 Western sandpipers and 2 gulls for wildlife, and only small stones and old piles of kelp at the high-tide line. A new sand dune had formed just in front of the small cave in the bluff that, high above, houses the Face Rock parking area.   MORE  JohnnyCN Sep 13, 2008 3:30 PM   A cold northwest wind rendered Mile 100 somewhat unpleasant despite sunshine. Most of the nesting birds--cormorants, Common Murres, gulls, Pigeon Guillemots, Brown Pelicans--were absent, probably headed toward wintering areas. Live birds included two Black Oystercatchers, many cormorants on off-shore islands, a large number of gulls at Johnson Creek and Turkey Vultures flying overhead. Nine dead birds were found: 7 gulls--mostly immatures--1 cormorant, 1 Common Murre. The wrackline consisted of small rocks, a few small sticks, kelp, sea palms, other sea weeds, feathers, broken shells, clumps of mussels, crab and sand shrimp casings. Johnson Creek has formed a large pool at far south end of mile. Moderate human impact (12)- walking with 4 dogs.   MORE  JohnnyCN Aug 26, 2008 10:15 AM   Light use today of a popular beach. Only a total of 9 people, 4 of them on horseback. Three had their dogs with them. Only thing unusual were the large kelp piles. Wrackline contained typical collection of seaweed, broken mussel shells, bits of wood, animal casings and small rocks. One dead Common Murre.   MORE  JohnnyCN Aug 19, 2008 10:35 AM   On a morning that went from fog to sunlight to fog, and from very little wind to strong wind, there were 35 people and five dogs on the beach, and 8 horseback riders. The wrackline consisted of seaweed, tiny shells, wood chips, feathers and quarter-sized crabs. At least two hundred brown pelicans flew by, heading north. Two dead gulls, four dead Common Murre and one dead Pigeon Guillemot. A small salmon shark, was found still alive on the beach about 150 yards south of the last big, black rock near Face Rock. The shark was returned to the water and did not reappear.   MORE    Salmon Shark    Location: Mile 100 Copyright: (C) 2008 Romana Vaisar Salmon Shark    Location: Mile 100 Copyright: (C) 2008 Romana Vaisar Salmon Shark    Location: Mile 100 Copyright: (C) 2008 Romana Vaisar Salmon Shark    Location: Mile 100 Copyright: (C) 2008 Romana Vaisar JohnnyCN Jul 17, 2008 10:00 AM   On a gray morning of cold northwest wind, the beach attracted 24 walkers and 5 dogs. Two Snowy Plovers, which I had not seen here before, were chased by a dog. An unattended fire had been left burning at the edge of the sand where the dune grass began. Nine dead gulls were discovered along with a dead young seal. The wrack line was composed of many little sticks, broken shells, barnacle cases, feathers and old kelp. Johnson Creek had changed course from the middle of Mile 100 to the south end. Very little human refuse on the beach or else it was covered over by blowing sand.   MORE  JohnnyCN Jul 4, 2008 10:00 AM   On August 4, 08, Mile 100 had a high number of walkers(38)-30 walking, 1 taking photographs, 4 tidepooling and 3 gathering mussels, and dogs(9), but all were well behaved and seemed to be enjoying themselves. The high tide line was almost entirely composed of small pieces of wood and shell. I saw no dead birds or mammals, but did see a large flock of Whimbrel which were foraging both along the water and also high up on the beach--something I had not seen before. Overall, a slightly crowded but enjoyable day at the beach.   MORE    Whimbrels    Description: Whimbrels foraging high up on the beach. Location: Near Face Rock, Bandon Date: Jul 4, 2008 12:00 AM JohnnyCN Jun 12, 2008 10:30 AM   Mile 100 was quiet. Only 8 people braved the strong northwest wind to walk the beach which was spotted with small rocks and a few broken shells. One pair of Pigeon Guillemots appeared to be nesting on an off-shore rock, and another 3 pair were either nesting or courting. Two or 3 pairs of gulls seemed to be nesting on top of the rocks. Johnson Creek no longer reaches clear to the sea, but stops a hundred feet short of reaching it and just disappears into the sand.   MORE  JohnnyCN May 26, 2008 5:00 AM   Very little was happening on Mile 100. Small rocks and wood pieces in the driftline. There were some walkers (12), one fisherman and one dog--all well behaved. The beach had been swept clean of almost everything. A rather uneventful day.   MORE  JohnnyCN Feb 14, 2008 11:00 AM   Overall, this was a very uneventful day. The beach had been swept by winds and tides which left only small stones and sticks in the driftline. I did find three dead Western Grebes. Few live birds present, only a handful of gulls flew over. Moderate human impact (12)- walking. Two dogs.   MORE  JohnnyCN Jan 17, 2008 12:15 PM   On 1/16/08, a sunny, cold day, Mile 100 was largely empty of visitors and debris. Apparently the beach had been mostly swept clean by high tides and wind. Even birds were scarce. One dead Western Grebe. Small rocks and wood pieces in driftline. Stream modification. Low human impact (5)-walking. One dog.   MORE  JohnnyCN Oct 1, 2007 1:50 PM   The topography of the beach had changed from its usual flatness to hillocks, or piles of sand, with intervening gullies where the water washed quite far into the beach,leaving empty pools during low and medium tide. Mussel shells, kelp sea palms and wood pieces were scattered along the high tide line. Dead birds were a gull, a cormorant and a Mallard duck. A large flock of about 100 gulls on beach. Human presence was moderate (9)- walking, 1 dog.   MORE  JohnnyCN Sep 24, 2007 10:55 AM   On a beautiful fall day I walked Mile 100 and saw 13 dead birds: 3 cormorants and 10 gulls. Two of the gulls had attracted turkey vultures. An immature gull appeared sick or injured, allowing me to come within ten feet of it before it tried to escape by walking away. It never did attempt to fly. The beach was also littered with mussel shells, some singly and some in clumps three feet long with many arrangements in between. There were also large piles of kelp and some sea palms,especially toward the south end of Mile 100. A large "pile" of sand has built up within the shadow of the cliff where the parking lot is for Face Rock. Moderate human impact (17)- 16 walking and 1 playing in surf. One dog.   MORE  JohnnyCN Jul 5, 2007 9:50 AM   High wind and blowing sand made walking uncomfortable. Only a few birds present: a few gulls, a couple crows, 4 Black Oystercatchers, 1 flying Bald Eagle. Saw several "baby" gulls on tops of rocks as I walked by. "Babies" were so large that when adults tried to sit on them, they stuck out from beneath him/her everywhere like a fringe. High wind and blowing sand swept the beach clean or buried debris. Black Oystercatchers WALKED into the wind. (Was the wind too strong for them to fly?) Bald Eagle, harrassed by gulls, flew over with gull chick in talons. Humans, walkers especially, hunched against the wind and blowing sand looking uncomfortable. Small rocks in driftline. Shorebirds foraging and moving in response to humans. Moderate human impact (2)-13 walking, 5 tidepooling and 7 riding horses.   MORE  JohnnyCN Apr 7, 2007 2:00 PM   On a cold day before Easter, there were not as many people as I had expected at Face Rock. There was an unusually large amount of plastic detritus on the beach, especially bottles and bottle caps. Three dead birds--a Horned Puffin, a Rhinoceros Auklet and two black wings with a bit of bone. Shorebirds moving in response to humans. Single strands of bull kelp with seaweed, small rocks, wood pieces and styrofoam in driftline. Moderate human impact (14)-11 walking and 3 playing in sand. Two "scooters" running up and down beach on closed beach.   MORE  JohnnyCN Mar 12, 2007 7:30 PM   Graffitti (Tagging?) inside the tunnel through huge monolith below Face Rock parking lot, otherwise area was remarkably clean of natural debris or human detritus, even in the wrackline. There were, however, four dead birds--1 dead immature gull, 1 rhinoceros auklet, 1 Tufted Puffin, and 1 Horned Puffin. Two live birds--Black Oystercatchers--on near off-shore rock. The same rock a pair of Oystercatchers nested on last year, I think. Human use was light, 4 people who were sauntering along with 2 dogs. The beach was strewn with small rocks near the waterline. Several good-sized clumps of kelp near Johnson Creek.   MORE