Report Details

The day started with a beautiful sunrise and then.... at 8:15 a.m. the full moon setting into the horizon. Will add that photo.Clouds were high and thin with the sun breaking thru. The tides had obviously been high, leaving large ponds of water at the base of the bluffs. Many large logs were scattered high on the beach. and the grassy dunes were lain down by the tides. (Many grass seeds were in the surf lines.)On the way from the parking area to the north end of the mile we counted 21 dead blue-footed birds. Interesting that none were south of the parking area. Also to the north were the dead ducks and salmon. It was interesting to see 3 distinct surf lines. Near the bluff, near the grass dunes, and then, rather normally, nearer the water.

Conditions

Temperature: 55 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: 7.8 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 9. Number of dogs: 5. Walking or running: 9. All of the people were well bundled up and just walking, most with their dogs.

Concerns

Apparent violations: none.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 2.

Notable Wildlife

Only notable because we saw only 3 live wildlife....all crows! No live sea birds anywhere.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 24. 21 of the dead birds were of the "blue footed....(probably Cassin's auklet) variety." 3 were ducks. All looked drowned, not oily or bitten.

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

Only one, a large salmon ...maybe 25 lbs. It had a very large "bite" out of its rear abdomen area.

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Shells, Small rocks, Wood pieces. Grass seed, lots of it

Natural Changes

Erosion of vegetated foredune, Evidence of wave overtopping, Landslides/major boulder falls. 2 small landslide south of the wayside. The creek beds both N and S of the wayside had cut deep and in some places created about 3 ft to 5 ft edges to the creek.

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All Mile 204 Reports

Showing 8 of 55 reports

Mile 204

November 19, 2023

Today marked my latest sighting of the old growth driftwood log that I've admired and whose comings and goings from Driftwood Beach I've documented since June 2020, when I first photographed it high on the beach south of Buckley Creek.

Jon French

Mile 204

August 11, 2023

I had read that the 265-foot vessel Seacor Lee would be anchoring a mile off Driftwood Beach in support of OSU's PacWave South wave energy testing project, positioned so that divers from the ship could perform work on previously installed seafloor conduits.

Jon French

Mile 204

June 17, 2023

I haven't walked Driftwood Beach regularly since the PacWave South wave energy project completed work underground in the Driftwood parking lot.

Jon French

Mile 204

January 1, 2023

By the time I got to Driftwood Wayside, a lot of people had already arrived for their New Years Day beach walks, some 30 vehicles in the parking lot and 30 - 40 people down on the beach, accompanied by at least half as many dogs, almost all leashed.

Jon French

Mile 204

October 23, 2022

This was probably the last dependably dry Mile 204 walk before the rains begin in earnest.

Jon French

Mile 204

August 17, 2022

After the morning fog lifted and before the marine layer moved in, I walked from Seal Rock on Mile 205 to Beach Access 66C on Mile 203.

Jon French

Mile 204

June 3, 2022

Driftwood Wayside is open again after PacWave's departure, but I was the only visitor on this breezy, drizzly day.

Jon French

Mile 204

May 10, 2022

The PacWave South wave energy project hosted a BBQ today at Driftwood Wayside for staff and neighbors to celebrate the completion of construction work here and the reopening of the Wayside later this month.

Jon French