Mile 277 Report
Netarts Spit
October 2, 2010
This is my second walk this fall.
Report Details
This is my second walk this fall. I walked the entire Netarts Spit the first week of September, but did not file my report. In September, I saw a number of shore birds, about 3-5 turkey vultures and an eagle. This time, I encountered three dead sea lions. The first two were found on my walk north to the end of the spit and the third one was found on the return trip south. Below are my observations:Mile 276: located in between the shore and dune:Sea Lion: 6 feet in length. Two round wounds, both the size of quarters, resembling gun shot wounds. Entangled in fishing net. Body was intact. No predators around the body.Mile 278: located in between the shore and dune:Sea Lion: 6 feet in length. No visual exterior wounds. Half of the body was eaten by black birds. Black birds surrounded the carcass.Mile 277: pushed to shore with the incoming tide as I approached:Sea Lion: 6 feet in length. Gushing blood from mouth. No other visual wounds. One black bird on top of sea lion.
Conditions
Temperature: 62 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: 2.8 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 6. Walking or running: 4. Playing in surf: 2.
Concerns
Litter
Notable Wildlife
No sightings of shore birds, turkey vultures, pelicans, or eagles.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 1.
Stranded Marine Mammals
Total stranded mammals: 3. See summary
Driftline Content
Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Styrofoam.
Natural Changes
Erosion of vegetated foredune, Newly exposed roots/trees falling, Visible retreat of solid bluff.
Jeanette
CoastWatcher
All Mile 277 Reports
Mile 277
Netarts Spit
Grass growing on dunes, two trees uprooted and some dune erosion Shore birds and seaweed at wave lineVellela-vellela at Mile 275-276Bald Eagle over Mile 276 Water bottle and spray bottle with Japanese letters on Mile 276
Jeanette
Mile 277
Netarts Spit
A large 8-9 foot Male California Sea Lion was found at the end of Mile 278.
Jeanette
