Mile 288 Report
Bayocean Peninsula, Kincheloe Point
August 17, 2012
Mid-summer visit made on a cool, cloudy day at the coast while it was near 100 in Portland.
Report Details
Mid-summer visit made on a cool, cloudy day at the coast while it was near 100 in Portland. As usual, beach was clean with few people. I collected a medium-sized SOLV bag full of debris including lots of small pieces of styrofoam, plastic bottles and caps, two disposable lighters, and, oddly, one fluorescent light tube. Carrying the debris all the way back to the parking lot gets very tiring. Will call Tillamook County to find out if a garbage container can be placed closer. There was a lot more kelp on the beach than I typically notice. See picture 1. There were no other notable physical or human-made changes other than the marking off of an area near the north end of the mile where a new trail looks like it will be placed. See picture 2. Had the pleasure of seeing a Black-bellied Plover walking in the dune area as I haven't seen one there for many years. Found one dead Olympic gull on the beach, three live Semi-palmated Plovers and little else. Overall a quiet walk.
Conditions
Temperature: 56 F. Cloud Cover: Foggy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: 2.0 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 2. Other Activities: Horseback riding. Signs are posted in the Bayocean Spit parking lot prohibiting camping but people continue to camp. I have previously contacted Tillamook County about this but apparently enforcement is not strong.
Concerns
Apparent violations: Some camping although Tillamook County prohibits camping on Bayocean Spit.
Vehicles
Cars/trucks parking: 13.
Notable Wildlife
Along dune area above the beach, 1 Black-bellied Plover. In the surf, 3 Semipalmated Plovers.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 1. Apparent adult Olympic Gull (Western/Glaucous-winged hybrid)
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass.
Report Images
YaakovM
CoastWatcher
All Mile 288 Reports
Mile 288
Bayocean Peninsula, Kincheloe Point
It was an incredibly busy day for Mile 288 the day before the snowy plover nesting season began! I was glad to see DOGAMI and OPRD on-site, and appreciated OPRD's willingness to haul the debris I collected back to their dumpsters. It was also exciting to see so many plovers in the wet sand.
Karen Schank
Mile 288
Bayocean Peninsula, Kincheloe Point
The weather is definitely turning.
SchankK
Mile 288
Bayocean Peninsula, Kincheloe Point
It was a beautifully calm, warm, sunny day along mile 288.
SchankK
Mile 288
Bayocean Peninsula, Kincheloe Point
There were 6 or more plovers and large accumulations of driftwood (both along the base and on top of the foredune cutbank).
SchankK
Mile 288
Bayocean Peninsula, Kincheloe Point
It was a beautiful, warm, sunny Saturday with a moderate north wind.
SchankK
Mile 288
Bayocean Peninsula, Kincheloe Point
It was great to see two separate families picking up beach trash/debris in the driftline from the most recent storms including in Mile 288!
SchankK
Mile 288
Bayocean Peninsula, Kincheloe Point
There was clear indications of active foredune erosion with visible cutbanks (see photo) and significant debris.
SchankK
Mile 288
Bayocean Peninsula, Kincheloe Point
Mid-winter day that seemed like spring.
YaakovM