Report Details

For the past three months I have not been able to observe my entire beach because there have been from one to two hundred sea lions hanging out on the South end of Cape Cove. As everyone knows, it is not advisable (or legal) to disturb these mammals. It was really nasty weather today and I thought I would try my beach again, thinking that the sea lions would be seeking shelter inside of Sea Lion Caves to the immediate South, and I could have the entire beach to myself. Well I was wrong, there were about a hundred of them there today. Fortunately they were all crowded on the South end as usual, but the trailhead is on the North end. I went down to the beach and just kept my distance. Lots of sand had gotten scoured off the beach so far this season. This has made for some good agate hunting. Agates, light in color, are easy to spot when they are laying on top of a substrate of black "coble" rock. This beach has consistently been an excellent producer of trophy-sized agates.Commercial crabbing season started about three weeks ago and evidence is washing up on the beach. Three commercial crab pots have washed in and gotten destroyed on the rocks. I found a couple crab pot bouys with the new ODFW tags on them that identify the boat, and the crab season (08-09). I also found an 8" plastic Japanese float ball.I've asked Santa for a digital camera for Christmas so maybe I'll be able to upload photos for my next report. Happy Holidays everyone!

Conditions

Temperature: 46 F. Cloud Cover: Rain. Wind Velocity: Strong. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: 2.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 1. This unique beach has no public access and therefore human activity is not very commonplace.

Notable Wildlife

About a hundred sea lions lounging on the South end of Cape Cove, thus, I had to keep my distance.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 1. Couldn't tell by the remains what species it was, but some other animal(s) made a meal of it.

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Styrofoam, Wood pieces.

Natural Changes

Newly exposed roots/trees falling, Visible retreat of solid bluff.

Actions & Comments

I have been keeping watchful eye on a drainage pipe installed in 2000 after major landslide that kept hwy 101 closed for about four months. It was raining heavily today so I got to see it in action. The stream of water flowing out of it was landing on cobble rock about 15' below, so it didn't seem to have any erosion issues,that is probably why they have it cantilevered about 10' past the edge of the bluff.

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All Mile 178 Reports

Showing 8 of 24 reports

Mile 178

April 1, 2016

This is my end-of-quarter report for the first quarter of this year.

Brien M

Mile 178

January 1, 2016

It was New Year's Day morning, and no better way to begin 2016 than a visit to my beach!

Brien M

Mile 178

November 26, 2015

It was Thanksgiving morning 2015.

Brien M

Mile 178

September 19, 2015

It was the annual Great Oregon Fall Beach Clean-up event today.

Brien M

Mile 178

September 27, 2014

The annual Fall beach clean-up was today, and weather conditions could not have been better.

Brien M

Mile 178

August 24, 2014

My coast mile has many areas that can only be accessed by water.

Brien M

Mile 178

August 16, 2014

It was a very comfortable Saturday morning low tide.

Brien M

Mile 178

May 31, 2014

It was a minus tide, and it allowed me to observe the invertebrates living on the "off-shore" rocks.

Brien M