Mile Report Browser

I covered the middle and southern portions of the of the mile, starting about 6:15 am. The morning tide was quite low, -2.0', but the surf was 7'-9' so beach access was out of the question along the southern rocky portion. I didn't see any other people on the southern rocks but by the time I returned to the beach between Cummins Creel and Gwynn Creek around 9 am, there were a few people on the beach.

I encountered river otter tracks on the beach. They were exploring, apparently, the isolated rocks jutting out of the sand between Cummins and Gwynn Creeks. I also thought it was interesting to find a little right-eyed flounder, only about an inch long, cast up on the beach, and I also came across a lone dead Pacific sardine. I don't see those too often in the drift line. 

We decided to explore this stretch of beach due to the significant minus tide on July 14th.  Many others apparently had the same idea.  Most people were taking advantage of the conditions to check out the tide-pools and hunt for rocks/agates but there was one sizeable group from OSU which was conducting "hundreds of studies" including monitoring the algae and oxygen level of the ocean as well as "relocating sea stars."  The usual harbor seals were not seen until the tide was coming in (around noon) but what was perhaps strangest about this trip were the hundreds of small green crabs noted on the north end of Strawberry Hill Beach.  Otherwise, there were, as usual, scores of anemones, mussels, birds (including one osprey), and sea stars (I'd heard that the condition of the sea stars was "not good" but I have no experience as to evaluating the health of these creatures).

The primary reason for this inspection is to see and record with photos of the completed beach bank armoring project first observed and chronicled in my report and dispatch filed in January of this year.

Most people were on the north side of the dune, not in my mile. Two hang gliders and 3 vehicles with helpers/onlookers with them. A few people walking the beach, two with dogs. A couple kids playing in the waves. Very wide beach on this minus tide with a wrack line very high, way up the dune. High tide had been just after midnight at 9', low tide just before 9 a.m. at -1 so a 10 ft difference that really leveled out the beach. Some fog early that cleared.

I covered the northern portion of the mile, departing the north parking lot at Gwynn Creek at 6 am. Except for a small bit of beach access just south of Gwynn Creek this portion is up on Captain Cook's Reef. I didn't see any people along this stretch but upon my return at 10 am there were nine cars in the parking lot and I could hear people enjoying the beach below.

I got an earIy morning treat when I saw two river otters exploring crevices in the rocky bench just south of Gwynn Creek. They were playing with a small silvery fish. There were treefrog polliwogs in most all of the pools formed by seeps at the base of the cliff on the upper fringes of Cook's reef. It seemed so odd to see them swimming around the mussel shells and crab molts. A pair of kildeer appeared to have a nest in the sea shell litter at the base of the cliff near the north end of the mile. 

Though overcast many people were enjoying their beach time including a lady from TX.  I will keep an eye on the wooden pallet covered with barnacles and mussels—it's too heavy for me to lug off the beach alone.

A couple new signs at the 73rd St beach access.  One regards public restrooms and the other fireworks.  Despite increased proactive measures taken by the LCPD and North Lincoln Fire and Rescue, there were a lot of fireworks set off on Roads End beach July 4th, overwhelming law enforcement once again.

The only unusual siting today was a bird carcass on the dunes. I assume it's a raven. I also removed a large beer bottle that was left alongside the trail, but it was in an area near the highway. Other areas of the trail were trash-free.

WOOD CHIPS!!!! Soooooo many of them all along the entire stretch of Mile 220. They are in the surf line and high wrack. Also a fresh Common Murre was being eaten by a Turkey Vulture. Lots of people and dogs.

Crowded on the beach on the day after the 4th of July...255 people and 16 dogs. Golfing and a softball game in addition to the more usual digging of holes, building sand castles and cycling. Mild weather and calm ocean with minimal algae and kelp in the driftline. 

Lots of washed up jellyfish: counted over 30. Also a seal (alive) on the beach near southern end of the beach. Two dead seabirds (one COASST tagged), appearred to be LIGU's. 

Immature bald eagle at Cascade Head.

I brought two people with me who collected litter while I observed. Found one washed up bottle with Vietnanses on the label.

Beach fairly clean - lots of beautiful at the shoreline.  Thirteen sea stars near the cave - fewer than five years ago, but more than last year.  Pelicans flying - seven!  Again, more than last year, but many fewer than five years ago.

It was a beautiful morning on Siltcoos Beach. No noticeable changes since our report in February except for the appearance of roped off plover nesting areas...a large area to the south of the access point and a smaller area to the north. It was 54 degrees when we arrived at 8:15 AM at low tide with a light breeze coming from the NW. The beach was very clean with no observable plastic pellet debris (unlike last Feb. when we saw a lot of that). We did not walk all the way to the mouth of the river (south) because there were adult plovers feeding at the wrack line and we did not want to disturb them (especially since that area is normally busy with visitors, making it more difficult for them). The beach was empty when we arrived; when we left (10:00 AM), there were several people on the beach and some ATVs and a truck within the allowed riding area. Most walkers were staying on the wet sand near plover areas as requested by signage at the entrance. One person did appear to be east of the wet sand out on the spit, but we could not see well enough to know for sure if they were off wet sand or in the plover fenced area since the river does cause a bend there. One dog was on the beach off-leash near the plover areas, unfortunately. At first, the dog was north in the dog-restricted area; by the time we had gotten back to the access point, he had moved north of the access point in the dog-allowed area, but the dog was near a roped off area (north of the access point) where a pair of plovers have attempted to nest, but where they have been unsuccessful so far (per the plover educator we spoke to there) due to human/dog disturbance in that area. Dogs are allowed in that area (per signage).

8 people on the beach.  Large piece of driftwood smoldering from a fire that had not been properly extinguished. Monday morning observing the remnants of human activity over the weekend. Besides the smoldering driftwood, there was some litter (water bottle, Styrofoam cup, paper), and a couple of new driftwood forts. Noticed that a lot of sand has been scoured out. There is a long sand shelf and several rock beds visible. 

Beautiful day.  Lots of people and dogs enjoying the beach.

I first adopted this mile in 1995. I left Oregon and discontinued my watch in 2007.  I've returned to Oregon and have just re-adopted this very same mile.

I hiked in on the Tahkenitch Creek trail.  The first thing I noticed is the extensive roping off for the plover along the last 1/3 mile trail TO the beach.  Once on the beach, the roping is now on both sides of the creek.

 I see is that there is a lot more habitat for the endangered snowy plover to nest;all planned and good.  Around 1997, ODNRA bulldozed and used herbicides to rid the invasive European beach grass to create designated habitat for the plover.  It's been improving since then.  Also, the signage is much more direct and extensive, warning hikers to walk only on the wet sand, etc.

Because of very low tide and need to stay on wet sand, I was maybe 75 yards from roping, making it impossible to spot any plovers.  

I can't make any comment on the changes from last time, but I'll look for them when I return in the fall.

My first CoastWatch-based walk on mile 99, which is between 2 creeks, and includes numerous large rock formations on the beach and a public picnic area. I collected 2 containers (approx. 2 gallon capacity each) of inorganic beach debris along the east/bluff side of the beach. The debris was primarily plastic pieces over 2 inches square, and glass and trash from beach campfires. There were no concerns identified with the wildlife or people enjoying the beach on a lovely day. 

Cloudy 61' , light breeze from NW, 15 people, 5 dogs walking or running along beach. 5 cars parked in parking lot, beachside campground full for holiday weekend. Few gulls and crows present along tideline, many 1-2inch clear jellyfish and Dungeness crab casings along tideline. Clean beach.

• Human Activity:  Higher than usual numbers of people. 1 equestrian.
• Shoreline Wildlife:  1 dead Harbour Porpoise;1 dead large jellyfish

8 people were enjoying the beach.  Noted 2 dead gulls and Valella valella in the drift line along with kelp.

Beautiful day. Moderate amount of trash. Found dead harbor seal approximately midway of mile well above the wrack line. The beach was littered with downy feathers. Not sure if from molting/preening but more that we had ever seen before. There was a Volkswalk event going on this day.

There was nothing startling or unusual about this beachwalk except that we noted significant destruction of a staircase and its foundation below the large vacation rentals just south of Moolack Beach. In the same vein, the fancy RV park's attempts to build a path or stairs to the beach and add drainage pipes below their property have failed spectacularly. We're not certain when either of these erosional events took place. A third change has been the virtual disappearance of the 2-track beach access just north of Moolack Shores Motel. The vegetation is now crowding in on a 5-inch-wide gully at the center of the access route, difficult to navigate.

beginning of holiday week, lots of morning beachgoers, -0.6 tide, many Moon Jellies in driftline

I walked and was blown from north to south on this very windy day, and was very nearly deposited on the Dune  myself. the wind was strong enough to pick up chunks of still wet sand and blow it! Virtually no trash present except one tire. A new informational sign on petrels has been erected on a parking area on 101.   One on shore rock on the south end of the mile usually has a sand ramp on its south side in the summer but as yet does not.

Overall environmentally heatlhy and clean.

The cape looked good, no pollution, or cliff erosion noted.  The wildlife seemed less common than in the past, most notably sea lions, but also no pelicans spotted and fewer cormorants than in the past. We saw one hiker, though I am sure there were many, and no other boats.  I had a new sighting for me, a pair of red-throated loons and also had a close encounter with a harbor porpoise.

Vehicles have obviously been entering an area closed for nesting birds that extends from the So. Jetty for approx. 1 miles.  I left a message for the ranger alerting him of the issue.

Everything was calm and a-ok.

I was surprised to find most of Mile 289 posted as off limits due to it being a nesting bird area.  Access is limited to the wet sand.  I pay attention to Bayocean Spit, but I did not see or hear of any public  meeting regarding this.  I would have liked to have given input.  I get the reason and support the concept, but I have a big disagreement with the details.  The sign indicates that dogs are not allowed on the mile.  But people and horses can walk the wet sand.  Our dogs has accompanied us on Coast Watch and COASST surveys for nearly 20 years.  We had no idea that the beach was restricted until we arrived.  We respected the zone and walked 150 ft or more west of the markers.  The dog was in voice control and never entered the restricted area.  But we were still violating some type of regulation in order to complete the survey and reach the jetty.  This type of over- regulation plays right into the hands of the AM talk radio crowd that whine about environmental regulations.  The Bayocean Spit loop hike is featured in multiple publications, but it would be off-limits if hikers wanted to bring the family dog.  If horses can walk in the lower areas, it seems that dogs under control should be allowed.  I could even support leashes required.  

A lot of people on the beach this evening -- hard to keep count! Along the tide line were large numbers of small dead mole crabs, and one pyrosome (that I saw), plus scattered beached/bleached Velella velella among the sparse drift. An unusual fine (to me) were whelk egg cases (see photo). Dunes are building up. The water level in the creek seems low: some spots just 10'-12' wide, and no deeper than just above the ankle. The "resident"(?) great blue heron made an appearance, as usual. Mostly cloudy, but the clouds did break up toward the end of my time on the beach.

Notable large rocks and a log at the driftline (Southern part of mile); clean drfitline at the North end; very few shorebirds.

My friend from Japan, Taeko, and I enjoyed a summer solstice walk on our beach mile this morning. We saw people surfing, walking and biking the mile. Driftline had crab, clam and mussel shells, sand shrimp shell, various seaweeds in small amounts, a purple sea star. The hopeful surfers were gone on our return walk, probably disappointed in the mildness of the ocean waves. Three vulturess were flying overhead and then gathered on the beach, but we didn't see any sign of what they had been eating. Other birds noted were a flock of geese flying overhead, a few gulls and terns. A very clean beach with hardly any driftwood.

The beach was very active with people clamming, walking, tossing a football,visiting with oddly enough a game of croquet on the beach.

There was practically NO trash or litter on this mile today. Let's hope this continues!

Tourist season is in full swing on the Oregon Coast! The Lookout parking lot was full, the gift shop was crowded, observation sites were busy, most people were seeing the two whales right below, and enthusiasm reigned. The wildlife was more abundant than usual, with lots of gulls and cormorants being present. And, let's not forget the whales. Physical changes to the shoreline appeared non-existent. The shoreline is based on basalt which is very resistant to wave erosion. The is a large rockfall below and to the northwest of the Lookout, which has appeared unchanged for the past several years. I am photographing it each time I visit to document any changes, which would be most likely in association with winter storms.

A newly dead female Steller sea lion washed up just south of the 11th St. Stairs at Coquille Point. No injuries were apparent, apart from pecked-out eyes. Photos were sent to Jim Rice, and the Bilderbacks later examined the creature.

Also in the same mile was a live seal pup, close to Elephant Rock. Diane B. said it had moved on when she went to post a sign.

2- horseback riding on beach with a third horse, North of Siletz River and one bike rider on the south spit of the Siletz, who luckily did not disturb the seals who are usually seen sunbathing there on nice days.Most rock hunters are looking for agates using long sticks with kitchen tools for screening and easy pick up of rocks.

Collected some debris.  There were 2 dead mammals, One I am pretty sure was a juvenile sea lion.  The other, I am not sure. No teeth, no appendages, strong backbone.  Perhaps I will send a photo.  Nothing much to report.  I continue to be encouraged by the very small amount of debris out there.  We are making progress

A beautiul late spring day, with several families treating dad to a great Fathers Day trip to the beach...

The bloated Steller sea lion just south of Bandon's South Jetty is gone, presumably taken by the tides. There were no signs of heavy equipment in the sand where it had rested..

Major loss of sand btween 3 mile and 5 mile creeks. No logs and stumps, large bunches of kelp. Only two sea stars and no anemones or rocks and tidepools.

Major loss of sand btween 3 mile and 5 mile creeks. No logs and stumps, large bunches of kelp. Only two sea stars and no anemones or rocks and tidepools.

This year there is increased use >350-500 visitors in one day. One must wonder the recoupertive tide effect with this increased use.

No notable changes to the beach or cliffs since my last report. Minimal trash and no large pieces of debris although Parks staff had been there on an ATV a couple days earlier so they would have picked up any larger pieces. The beach was flat and sandy with only a minimal amount of the underlying rocks exposed. Large group of gulls, including many juveniles, as I headed south.  On the return trip, the gulls were gone and another group of birds were on driftline. Surprised that there were only 2 other people on the beach on such a beautiful day. There were half a dozen or so people walking & playing around on the beach just north of Moolack Creek on mile 222.

We discovered a black oystercatcher nest at the far east side of our beach along the cliff side. Once chick has since hatched.

A beautiful day with a very low tide. There were certainly more photographers out this day than on other occasions. Upon returning to the parking lot from my walk the lot was at max capacity for cars. 

Hiked the Three Mile Lake - ocean beach - Tahkenitch Dune Loop Trail (6 miles) today.  The beach portion of the loop covers Mile 154 and the south half of Mile 155.  Met only two other hikers all day and had the entire ocean beach all to myself!  Very clean beach trash-wise.  Major portions of the upper dry sand beach have been roped off by the Forest Service for snowy plover restoration.  Observed several osprey and a bald eagel fishing in the surf.  A single sea lion was just off-shore heading south.  Remains (casts) of Vella vellela were along the entire beach, mixed in with lots of dead mole crabs - which I have not observed on this beach before.  The Forest Service has relocated the west 1/3 mile of the Tahkenitch Dune/Beach trail several hundred feet further inland from the Tahkenitch Creek estuary due to high water damage on the old trail.  Nice trail!

The Forest Service has aggressively roped off any hiker access to the Tahkenitch estuary sands at the west end of the Tahkenitch Dune/Beach trail, forcing hikers to use the rather steep but do-able drop-off down to/up from the beach (photo).  Fortunately, the access didn't get washed away by winter storms/high tides like last year.

To make my stroll on the beach an absolutely perfect day, a formation of WWII heavy bombers - a Boeing B-17 and a B-24 - flew up the beach apparently heading to an airshow somewhere up north.  What a glorious sound for this old Navy pilot!

Nothing unusual to report.

Three of the four drainpipes have been either removed or cut down.  Erosion continues in the cliffs, including at least 3 areas with sizable boulders broken off and fallen onto the beach.  The level of the beach has risen by at least a foot, since the rocks near the water are protruding less high above the sand.  There are a few areas of standing water again at the foot of the embankment.  But Mile 211 remains one of the more unspoiled beaches I have seen on the Central Coast, and when the sun is out, as today, it is very appealing.  Most of the people use the beach immediately in front of the Lost Creek parking lot or in front of Holiday Beach.  In between, there are very few people.

Many new signs. Since the last time:; the beach is semi blocked. Shorebird preserve: pedestrians must walk on wet sand only. No dogs, bikes, motorized vehicles. Every 50 yards a stake with a sign : March 15-Sept 15 Snow Plover Preserve: Keep out. Near North Jetty: Not constructed for public access.

A massive Steller sea lion washed up on the night high tide several yards from the South Jetty.  It was a male and quite dead. It showed no obvious injuries, but it was beginning to stink. Barnacle-like critters were scattered on its back. Stranding report and photos have been filed with Jim Rice.1

Beautiful morning before the squalls blew in from the southwest.  Wide beach with lots of sand depostited.  Pristine; no litter in the wrack line. Sign erected on the beach (Private Property) about 20 feet from cliff, about 300 yards north of the last beach house towards the knoll.

World ocean day. Peaceful. The main concern is the plastic trash. Plastic kids beach toys are a common litter here.

 A couple new signs on the northern end of Roads End beach, both indicating private property and where the public restrooms are located.  Park Ranger Ryan Parker installed the signs.   The drift line contained a lot of jelly pieces.  Update:  The 2 private property signs were removed, by the Park Service, on Friday, June 15th.  

A quiet day, without many birds, not even gulls, flying.  Not much wind but a big surf so there were no Surf Scoters out in the water.  There were some gulls at the mouth of Tenmile Creek but as we drove up the coast we saw a feeding frenzy out in the water, gulls diving and flying all in a small area.  There were a lot of dead crabs in the driftline, some very big ones totally intact and uneaten.  A lot of small ones as well.  The beach was very rocky and hard to walk on, except for the first sandy part.  The summer sand hasn't started coming in yet.   Most of the people tend to stay in the first sandy area.   The rock hunters go farther north to the cobble section.

A very pleasant day with sun and light wind.  Not many people out.  there were 2 helicopters, one being Coast Guard.  No bird activity except for the 4 vultures at the 5' dead seal.  Litter not bad.  Can't submit photo of large house above Henderson Creek which seems to be added onto as well as new roof -- the photo is too large.

The beach is now long, flat and very clean.  The driftline had nothing in it, although the previous high tide line showed more mole crab carcasses than usual.  The large amount of wood that was thrown up in previous years has sand over much of it and has added to the formation of a new front dune.  This mile is part of the snowy plover protected zone with the improved signage this year appearing to be more effective at keeping people, dogs and horses off the upper beach.  There were only 4 people on horses on the wet sand, almost no birds, and no carcasses.  Only 2 cars and one RV were in the parking lot for the park. 

Very pleasant day. Beach is wide and very clean, only picked up a few water bottles and plastic bags. No styrofoam, which was quite prevalent in the past.

Nice to see a few folks out enjoying this gorgeous day! 6 people and 1 dog. Lots of small rocks in the north section of 220, LOTS of sand in the southern end. Able to go through the southern end "cave" to check on the beach on the other side due to the low tide. Saw about 5 star fish. Wonderful to see all the sea birds nesting in the cliffs on the southern end of 220, they are BUSY!! The continuous slide/crash of the bluffs continues onto the beach, including vegetation from the top of the bluffs.

Light breeze from the NW, 58 degrees, cloudy morning, 22 people enjoying the beach- walking or sitting, children playing in sand, 7 dogs, 2 fishermen at edge of surf. 2 crows, 1 gull flew over. Surf line content: some bull kelp, mole crab parts and velella velella,- not fresh, pebbles, shells. Of note was 1 common murre carcass. Clean beach.

The driftline contained an unusual amount of  dead Velella velella in some areas.

 Observed tire tracks not an actual vehicle.  Vehicles are NOT allowed on this section of beach

The dead sea lion on Mile 101 between 8th St. stairs and the passes toward Elephant Rock is gone. Sometime since yesterday morning, a piece of heavy equipment dug in the area where the sea lion lay. I couldn't tell if it had been buried in place or removed. Who and where are the questions.

A seal pup was observed by numerous individuals from about 4:15 pm to 8:15 pm in front of Lifesaver Post #7 in Neskowin (the pup was sighted earlier that morning further south). The pup appeared stranded or injured. Authorities were notified but apparently never responded. A local resident put caution tape near the pup to protect it from humans and dogs. At around 8:15 pm the mother seal was spotted in the surf and the pup returned to the ocean.

Crescent Beach, below Ecola State Park and just north of Chapman Point/North Chapman Beach, is pristine, secluded and difficult to access. There were a total of five people on the beach - two unrelated couples and me. It was sunny and there was a moderate, chilly breeze. Most notable observations were a manmade shrine/altar made of driftwood with other found objects and a feather, as well as a crab trap washed up to the back of the shore almost against the cliff. I did not remove the crab trap. It was bulky and I wasn't sure I could manage to bring it up to the street level because of the trail climbing difficulty.

A very quiet day on the beach.

There were 8 people, two were rock hounding, there were 3 dogs being walked.

There were by the wind sailors, kelp and sand fleas in the drift line.The sand was flattened in places due to recent high winds.

Higher number of dead crabs in wrack line than usual.

Lots of holiday visitors out on windy Heceta Beach today. Parking lots at both ends of Mile 171 were nearly full to capacity. The early summertime bloom of phyto- and zooplanktons is very apparent today, especially from an elevation off the beach. The near-shore 1/4 mile of ocean has a tan green-ish tint with a sharp transition to the normal ocean blue outside a 1/4 mile off-shore. The wet beach has multiple high wave lines of that scummy olive-drab froth of beached plankton. The high water line along the entire mile is also covered with a gazillion beached 2-3" diameter clear Moon jellies (Aurelia labiate) with an occasional Pacific Sea Nettle jelly (Chrysaora fusecescens) mixed in. And just to make the beach walk interesting, the wind and wave patterns were generating multiple "sneaker" waves that sent me and other tourists quick-stepping towards higher ground on occasion.

Very clean beach, despite the holiday weekend.Some squid egg cases present. One dead sea lion.

A harbor seal pup stayed in the same general area below Coquille Point from May 15 to May 28, when I found it dead on the high-tide line. Initially, it moved around and even went into the ocean. But the last several days, it did not move far and was obviously weakening. Later in the morning of May 27, a friend using a spotter scope zoomed in and saw the pup was perilously thin and weak. Others heard it crying.  Early on, I notified the Bilderbacks, who consulted Eric Murtz. But nothing substantive was done to isolate the pup from people and dogs or help it until May 27. Too little, too late. Photo from cell sent to Jim W. this morning.

Today was the most people we have seen on this beach, but it is the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend and it is sunny! 28 walkers, 3 runners, 8 dogs and a couple groups sitting and playing in the sand. Not much new debris washing in and the vegetation is starting to creep back out onto the sand now that the very high tides have abated. Also sand is building back up on the higher part of the beach by the bluffs.

Nine people were on the beach (5 walking and 4 sitting). The beach was extremely clean. No debris of any type. One picture attached. There was a bald eagle on a dead spruce tree that leans towards the ocean. There was some bank erosion on the south end of mile 307. I first observed this new erosion on May 6, 2018. The ocean washed out the rock berm in this part of the shoreline. The attached pictures show two large spruce trees on the beach that were part of an erosion event in 2006.

It was a nice sunny day even though it was fairly windy. Last report I did the rack retaining wall at the "D" River parking area had some damage to it which is possibly from whatever construction was happening in the parking lot, it looks as though they had put the larger rocks back in the cracks but it still doesn't really fix the wall. About 1/4 mile to the south end of the mile there is a rusty pipe in the vegetation (too much for me to carry back myself, or I would have), and at the end of the mile to the south it looks like someone has made a make shift shelter with logs, concrete and a large type of plastic for the covering.

A pretty clean beach! Litter patrol generated about 1/2 of a kitchen bag...mostly glass and plastic bottles, flip flops & clothing, assorted plastic and paper goods...all less than usually found. Nothing significant or of concern.

I've been watching a harbor seal pup below Coquille Point since May 15. It is alert and hugs the rocks and high-tide areas around the two passes near Elephant Rock. I have yet to see its mother on sand but have noticed at least one adult swimming just north of the pup. Diane Bilderback and Eric Murtz are aware of the pup, but I don't know if they're monitoring later in the day.

A nice day at the beach. Lots of activity.

Very nice day at the beach, low tide and it was still falling, one dog owner didn't seem physically able to clean up after their pets (two dogs that I cleaned up after).  I was plesantly surprised by the small amout of human trash left on the beach after a busy Saturday.    

Took the missus out for a trial walk with her new walking sticks, initially heading north into the wind from Driftwood Shores Resort up to Sutton Creek and return with a nice tailwind.  The on-going stranding of "By-The-Wind Sailors (Velella velellas) is piling up gazillions of the creatures all along Mile 172 and the rest of the Heceta Beach area.  Almost of the sailors were in the 2-4" length range, with only a few small examples observed. There were hundreds of weekend visitors also out on the beach, most of whom were trying to figure out what all those little blue things were.

No significant marine mammal activity observed today.  Lots of grey/white Glaucous-winged gulls migrating northbound (slowly) into the wind, with one bird actively plunge-diving into the Sutton Creek outflow multiple times until driven off by a bald eagle who power-dived into the shallow water and grabbed a 4-6" fish from the same spot.

No litter or dead furry/feathered critters on the beach today - just a lot of folks out enjoying the sunshine!

A pretty nice day on the beach. Many people for a cloudy & cool day, concentrated at the north end of the mile. At least half, maybe 2/3s of the people present were surfers plus a few companions of surfers. 5-6 dogs, pretty much under control--a nice change. Same unusual number of whimbrels I've been seeing for at least 3 weeks on every beach I've been on from the north jetty of Newport to mile 224. I was on the beach from about 2:30pm to 3: 30 pm. High tide today at the HMSC dock in South Beach was predicted/calculated to be at 5:05pm, & 7.2' so perhaps it was about 5' or so when I was on the beach, I can't say for sure nor do I actually know what the range of temperatures was while I was on the beach. I was comfortable in a light sweatshirt & unzipped windbreaker & jeans so perhaps 50's to 60. I have no idea why the mile report asks for precise measurements of tide and temperature, I don't carry a thermometer or know how to perform whatever calculations are needed to extrapolate from high or low tide at the HMSC to my mile, maybe 7-8 miles north, yet the form doesn't allow for estimates.   The new form continues to demand quite likely inaccurate but precise responses w/regards to time, time, temperature.  I spent about an hour on the beach, 15-20 minutes doing the report, in part because I had to go back to page 1 to remove the ?s I had entered along w/my estimates of the tide height, temperature and # of parked vehicles.  At my access point, there are 3 separate moderately large parking areas.  I don't take the time to walk to or along each one and count the vehicles.  In addition, the # can change while I'm on the beach, sometimes significantly so.   So unless there are very few vehicles parked at the access point, the number I enter is always an estimate.   It's too bad the form hasn't been revised to reflect that if that's what the mile walker has done.  

A beautiful day out, great low tide. People were respectful of the intertidal habitat. Having the watchful eyes of several OIMB graduate students on hand was no doubt a helpful factor.

5-18-18 mile 204 Driftwood beach wayside north to south end of Seal Rocks beach
8:30 am,  1.7 minus tide, went with 1 other person, cloudy morning, no rain, very little wind
only other people on the beach were 2 people gathering mussels, (not sure if commercial or private) and 1 surf fisherman on south end of Seal Rocks
several tide pools,  sea anenomes in abundance and rocks were covered in mussels and starfish, quite a comeback from the last die off and in many colors.
observed several seagulls and cormorants on the offshore rocks and 3 vultures on the beach near high tide mark, did not see anything that the vultures were feeding on
found one fairly large, seemingly intact dungeness crab dead on the beach, did not turn it over to see if male or female the rocks above the tides were covered in blooming pink thriftthere was very little marine debris or litter on the beach this day.

6 photos attached

The walk started with a very light mist, and then cleared off. The birds have returned to the Lighthouse area, I could have easily counted a thousand.

I noticed there is new plastic pipe showing at the equivalence of NW 61st Street from erosion near the top of the cliff.

Activities of note on the beach ranged from building sand castles to riding bikes. A significant influx of dead Velella (invertebrates in the same family Cnidaria as jellies) have arrived from the open ocean to the beach as a result of the wind shift from the south winds of winter to the north winds of summer. 

Significant influx of decaying Velella velella at the drift line. 42 people including 2 bicyclists; 13 walking/running; 15 playing in surf; 8 playing in sand; 4 sitting plus 3 dogs. 

A pleasant Mothers Day, with just a little light coastal fog.  Great day for wildlife spotting:  4 whimbrels, 1 brown pelican, 1 juvenile eagle, 10 turkey vultures, about 20 harbor seals (fewer than the normal number but there were also some in the water).  A few scattered Velella velella along the tide line.  One family had a dog who was very interested in the seals, but the people kept him in check.  When I went to investigate why there would be so many turkey vultures in a cluster on the beach, I came upon the carcass of a seal pup ... mostly intact except for the ribcage area.  This was about 40 yards from the water.  Very little trash to pick up today.

Fog shrouded the beach on the northern segment of Mile 102 at 5:30 a.m. close to low tide of 0.8 feet. A north wind was of moderate strength. Wildlife was not so apparent until the return walk. By then the fog had lifted. Groups of wimbrels and sanderling-size birds foraged in the wet sand, as did several gulls. Driftline contained Velella velella, a few Dungeness crab shells, shell fragments, small rocks, red and bull kelps, one unknown dead bird with black and white feathers and an open chest cavity. Logs were abundant close to the upper parking lot of the Coquille River lighthouse but thinned out further along. Considerable wave overtopping and erosion of the foredune was evident. A man ran with 3 unleashed dogs in the wet sand.

Fairly clean, windswept beach.  No mass Velella velella strandings this season, only a scattering of large specimens (3-4 inches).  No pyrosomes seen today.  A fair amount of mole crab molt, typical for this time of year.  

All was fine, however the dune shows signs of recent dune erosion.

Lots of bird activitiy on Heceta Beach today.  Two bald eagles, an osprey, the usual gaggle of turkey vultures, crows and ravens, sanderlings everywhere, several low-flying flocks of black turnstones heading north, a half dozen whimbrels, and a single Greater Yellowlegs (I think) with a long straight beak, tannish coloration, and noisy alarm calls as I walked by.  The alarm calls are apparently a distinquishing feature, according to my birding guide.

The turkey vultures have reduced the previously reported necropsied sea lion to not much more than a rib cage and hide and they're still working on it.  Only a few fresh Velella velellas have washed ashore today.  The usual gaggle of harbor seals were out feeding in the near-shore surf.

I've been walking Mile 171 for 12 years.  I went back and looked at older photos of the foredune at the south end of Mile 171 near the North Jetty Road parking lot.  The once straight-line fordune has now morphed into an upside-down "Y" shape, with a newer beachgrass-induced foredune building to the west of the original, joining together about 1/4 mile north of the jetty.  I'm guessing that since the sand can't migrate east anymore due to the beach grass, the beach is moving west ...

No one else was out at 5:30 on an overcast, slightly windy morning heading south from the South Jetty. The tide was 1.6 feet and the temperature 50. Wildlife was not particularly evident--just a few gulls and crows. The driftline consisted of small rocks, shell fragments, Velella velella (both blue and bleached white), mussels, a few Dungeness crab shells, both red and bull kelps. Logs remain in spots along the vegetated foredune, which shows signs of wave overtopping. For unknown reasons, people are building log structures. I counted 3 intact and 2 collapsed. The summer cycle of northerly winds and calmer tides has started. Even at high tide, there is abundant beach.

Pelagic cormorants, pigeon guillemots, one bald eagle, and 4-5 harbor seals at Cascade Head.

I picked up about half a bag of plastic trash and bottles. 

Seemed like there were more than normal amount of dead crabs. 

Was pleasantly surprised to see mole crabs that were alive. 

I am attaching a picture of the river. It seems to be changing. Quite a few rocks that never use to be there.

Mod winds from SW on cloudy day. 13 people,2 dogs walking along beach.  Shells, pebbles, and some mole crab molt along high tide line.  Clean beach. Beachside campground 3/4 full. 

It was a wonderful day for a walk on the beach. The summer crowds had not yet arrived. No unusual human activity was seen. The only unusual wildlife was a few pyrosomes (tunicates) in a small pool.