Mile 243 Report
February 11, 2020
Bright, sunny Tuesday right after King Tides.
Report Details
Bright, sunny Tuesday right after King Tides. Beach was scoured clean, logs rearranged and a few new ones deposited. Velella Velella were uniform in size, 3"-3.5", clear, and fairly fresh. Some erosion at MW 15th Street vehicle access but not enough to keep all cars from the beach. Maybe bette luck next time. Sand level noticibly lower, photo attached.
Conditions
Temperature: 45 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: 4.5 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 49. Number of dogs: 15. Walking or running: 47. Sitting: 2.
Vehicles
Beached Birds
Numerous dead birds that appeared to have had a violent death. Recent King Tides but no significant storms. Birds' wings were spread, bodies strangely angled. Not really evidence of scavengers.
Dead Fish or Invertebrates
Not sure if invertebrate or man-made, photo attached. Please identify if possible. Curiosity is a chronic disease. Scattering of velella velella, (scattering is greater than sprinkling). Unusual because almost all were of uniform size, 3"-3.5", clear, and fairly freshly beached. None smaller or larger. Last few weeks there have been a sprinkling of similar size, again clear. and often more dried and aged.
Driftline Content
Beach and driftline were scoured clean by recent King Tides.
Natural Changes
Erosion of vehicle ramp access at NW 15th Street, photos attached. Resident logs were significantly rearranged and a few large pieces of wood were deposited. Large pieces not necessarily "logs" but 3-4' x 6' ish pieces of wood, not manufactured.
Report Images
All Mile 243 Reports
Mile 243
Balmy 40 degree quiet day after a week of freezing rain and significant ice with temps in the low 30's.
Garretta Garetta
Mile 243
For the first time, no dead birds or mammals seen, but many dead fish at the wrack line today.
Patty Gardner
Mile 243
Again, short walk today but unusual concentration of dead fish, maybe 20-30 from NW 32nd to NW 26th Streets, Wecoma Beach.
Garretta
Mile 243
Four dead birds, one dead seal (reported to Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network).
PattyG
Mile 243
The Morning After Labor Day weekend is a lovely time on the Oregon Coast.
garretta