Report Details

A calm pleasant day.  There were THOUSANDS of squid egg cases in the tide line ... both along the ocean and on the Siletz Bay side of the Salishan Spit.  People on the Taft side of the river were yelling at us because they thought we were getting too close to the seal colony.  I appreciate their concern for the seal population but didn't appreciate the names they were calling us.  I couldn't really get into a conversation explaining who we were across the river mouth so I just had to wave.  No seals jumped in the water as a result of feeling disturbed.  Regarding trying to view and count the seals, I realize we are supposed to stay 50 yards away.  I find if I walk very slowly in their direction and don't look at them, kind of turning sideways so they don't think I'm getting too close, they do not get spooked.  Once too many heads pop up, I back off.  Also saw a skate egg case and a shark skeleton.

Conditions

Temperature: 60 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: W. Tide Level: 2.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 4. Walking or running: 4. Counted from a distance - 97 people and 4 dogs on the Taft side of the Siletz River mouth

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 2.

Notable Wildlife

120+ harbor seals in their usual resting place on the Salishan Spit. One seal pup was by itself away from the group.

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

One fish skeleton, appeared to be a shark

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt). Squid egg cases

Natural Changes

Drop-offs typical of the summer beach

Report Images

Report Images

Share this post

All Mile 239 Reports

Showing 8 of 87 reports

Mile 239

November 12, 2023

Not a bad fall day for a walk with our out-of-town visitors, but walking the beach was impossible due to the high tide and big waves, which were reaching the beach grass area and bouncing large pieces of driftwood around.

ORbeach

Mile 239

July 12, 2023

As nice a summer day as we get here on the coast.

ORbeach

Mile 239

April 30, 2023

After a winter and spring of horrible weather, we finally got out to survey our mile on a mild day.

ORbeach

Mile 239

November 20, 2022

Sunny, calm day.

ORbeach

Mile 239

August 6, 2022

Found a dead sea lion on the beach at beach access #50.

ORbeach

Mile 239

July 31, 2022

A warm calm summer's day.

ORbeach

decorative elemnt for a coastwatch report.

Mile 239

March 28, 2022

Lots of gulls and several seals playing in the surf.

mlbutowitsch

Mile 239

March 10, 2022

A calm, cool day with just a few high clouds.

ORbeach