Mile 138 Report

September 19, 2007
by comubp

Location:

Coos

Oregon Dunes NRA, south of Tenmile Creek

Conditions:

Wednesday

Sunny

54° F

Wind:

Moderate from the NW

Tide Level:

4.0 ft

Humans / Pets:

People:

Dogs:

Activities:

Concerns:

Disturbances:

Vehicles:

Activity Comments:

Notable Wildlife:

Five snowy plovers, 6 sanderlings, 29 assorted gulls were noted. Bullkelp and seapop were evident, though not abundant in the driftline.

Dead Birds:

Total:

Species/names:

One Brandt's cormorant high on the beach.

Stranded:

Fish & Invertebrates:

Driftline:

Kelp or Algae·Animal casings (e.g. crab, shrimp molt)·Animal casings (e.g. crab, shrimp molt)·Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.)·Shells

Plastic bottles

New Development:

Modifications:

Natural Changes:

Comments:

The roped off area for snowy plovers was intact, and no evidence of disturbance. There were two sets of old vehicle tracks which may have been biologists checking the area.

Summary:

Sunny and windy day. Steep beach angle to water with some evidence of waves overtopping the summer sand barrier. Variety of shells and casings between the sand barrier and the sea wall. Some bull kelp and plastic bottles on beach. Green plants evident and plentiful in the 50 feet leading up to the sea wall. One set of human tracks, 4 sets of deer tracks. No sign of the elk whose tracks were observed on previous visit. 5 Snowy Plover, 6 Sanderlings and 29 assorted gulls on beach. One dead Brandt's Cormorant. Low human impact (0).

Other Mile 138 Reports (9)

2010

September 24, 2010 - comubp

One lone hiker/beachcomber present. The driftline was mostly the usual small kelp, shells and casings plus a few Dungeness crab. A few misc. gulls were present. No unusual physical changes or...

2009

December 28, 2009 - comubp

Mile 138 was clean and mostly lacking notable wrack of a small number of shells, animal casings, kelp/algae wood pieces and Styrofoam. Two dead Northern Fulmar. One sparrow and one raven were noted...

September 12, 2009 - comubp

This vehicle prohibited mile was without tire tracks, and the only sign of humans was four sets of footprints, three barefoot, at the far north end of the mile. The tracks did not enter the...

March 12, 2009 - comubp

What a great day for a beach walk. The only concern was who put the vehicle tracks on the non-vehicle beach leading up to Tenmile Creek? BLM employees use both ATVs and 4wd vehicles to monitor the...

2008

December 16, 2008 - comubp

The beach was pretty much as expected for winter storm activity. Most of the debris was high on the beach with little in the way of algae, kelp or shells present in the surf line. About 40 gulls of...

March 16, 2008 - comubp

The BLM had a caterpillar grade the Snowy Plover nesting area behind the beach. No ropes or signage was visible on the beach as was present in past years. Perhaps it is too early. Small patchy...

2007

December 13, 2007 - comubp

A sunny day with small breeze. No signs of vehicle incursion into the closed area other than a likely agency patrol vehicle. Two sets of dog tracks present. Three sets of deer tracks. Two cow elk...

June 30, 2007 - comubp

A beautiful day on the beach. The driftline wrack was especially laden with barnacle covered items indicating offshore drift had recently arrived or was still arriving. Kelp/algae, shells, many...

March 24, 2007 - comubp

Summary: Light wrack. Some wood at high tide lines. Erosion of vegetated foredune uprooting European beachgrass. Snowy Plover nesting habitat prepared, roped off and signed. Dead birds: 2 Horned...