Mile 204 Report
September 20, 2021
The continued closure of Driftwood Wayside for OSU's PacWave wave energy testing project means that today's Mile 204 walk was more like three miles, with few people on the beach despite this being a beautiful sunny day.
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The continued closure of Driftwood Wayside for OSU's PacWave wave energy testing project means that today's Mile 204 walk was more like three miles, with few people on the beach despite this being a beautiful sunny day. After the recent storm, the rolling dunes that form in summer are beginning to wear down a bit. Near Buckley Creek, I came upon Turkey Vultures scavenging a carcass which Jim Rice at the Marine Mammal Stranding Network identified as an adult California Sea Lion, the prominent sagittal crest on top of the skull being diagnostic. In the driftlines were numerous bird remains which I believe were young Common Murres. I had taken an injured young Common Murre to the Oregon Coast Aquarium a couple of weeks ago for rehabilitation, and the intake person noted that the young Murres can have a tough time adapting to life at sea and often wash ashore this time of year.
Conditions
Temperature: 58 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: 5.0 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 8. Number of dogs: 2. Walking or running: 8.
Notable Wildlife
Turkey Vultures scavenging adult California Sea Lion carcass; many flocks of mostly Western Sandpipers along waters edge
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 3. Believe all were remains of young Common Murres
Stranded Marine Mammals
Total stranded mammals: 1. Carcass of adult California Sea Lion, reported to Marine Mammal Stranding Network
Driftline Content
Small rocks, Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt). Seafoam green with organic matter after storm
New Development
Not new, but construction work for OSU's PacWave South wave energy testing project continues at Driftwood Wayside.
Natural Changes
Rolling summer dunes beginning to wear down
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All Mile 204 Reports
Mile 204
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
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
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
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
This was probably the last dependably dry Mile 204 walk before the rains begin in earnest.
Jon French
Mile 204
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
Driftwood Wayside is open again after PacWave's departure, but I was the only visitor on this breezy, drizzly day.
Jon French
Mile 204
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