Mile 220 - Yaquina Head north, Schooner Creek south - October 4, 2013

Report Details

Beautiful sunset with a low tide so there were many more people on beach than usual. Nothing remarkable today. Pelicans, oystercatchers, gulls, crows cormorants, fishing hawk looking for dinner. Peregrines, eagles, turkey vultures are gone since murres have fledged. This beach tends to be the raptors' dining area after picking up fast food on Yaquina Head in the summer. Beach has had remarkably little trash on it recently. Guess we'll see what the winter storms bring.

Conditions

Temperature: 58 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NE. Tide Level: 0.1 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 24. Number of dogs: 3. Walking or running: 19. Photography: 1. Tidepooling: 3. Other Activities: kite flying-1. Beautiful sunset so lots of people for this beach. Many walk down from Schooner Landing and Pacific Shores RV Resort. Wooden "steps" down slippery rock below Schooner Landing-just 4x4 held in place with spikes. Will be interesting to see how they do this winter. Minimal disturbance to area.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 4.

Notable Wildlife

Large fishing hawk over shallow water tidal areas. Redder than osprey and a bit bigger. Caught small fish. Lots of seaweed clumps. It's fall.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 4. 2 cormorants1 murre1 looked like a fulmar

Stranded Marine Mammals

Total stranded mammals: 4.

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea), Shells, Small rocks, Styrofoam, Wood pieces.

New Development

Steps down bluff.

Natural Changes

Major cracks appearing in bluffs, Newly exposed roots/trees falling. At base of Agate Beach fault-very geologically active.