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It was a beautiful, warm, sunny Saturday with a moderate north wind.  I was glad to see the stakes and signs indicating snowy plovers were nesting in the northern portion of Mile 288!  I also enjoyed watching what may have been two whimbrels on the foreshore!On the negative side, it appeared as though someone caught their limit of cockles on the bay and crossed the spit with them before dumping them at the high tide line directly west of the trail entrance mid-mile.  And despite the significant amount of sand deposition since the winter storms, I still found several large piles of rope (too large for me to remove) and plenty of small pieces of Styrofoam, fishing debris, and of course plastic bottles (thankfully small enough quantities that I was able to carry it all out).

Conditions

Temperature: 59 F. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Wind Direction: N. Tide Level: -1.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 5. Number of dogs: 1. Walking or running: 2. Other Activities: 3 people were biking on the foreshore. There was one large container truck with government AF plates parked at the Bayocean County Parking Lot when I returned around 2 pm. I learned through social media that the military may have been conducting helicopter exercises in the area over the prior week. I don't know specifically where they were conducting exercises relative to the nesting snowy plovers nor do I know the disruption or disturbance distances.

Concerns

Litter, Shellfish or invertebrate collection

Apparent violations: I found approximately 20 wasted and unopened bay cockles spread across 150 feet of the most recent high tide line in the middle of mile 288 and directly west of the trail which crosses the spit to the bay. The cockles were just starting to rot and must have been dumped there within 1-2 days prior. The litter along mile 288 washed in from the ocean (although much less than during the winter high tides and storms). Debris primarily consisted of Styrofoam, fishing buoys/floats, plastic bottles, and a few large piles of rope..

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 40.

Notable Wildlife

I saw two shorebirds on the foreshore which I believe may have been whimbrels based on the calls they made and image through my binoculars.

Driftline Content

Small rocks, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces, Styrofoam, Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.).

Man-made Modifications

Snowy plover nest sites were marked with stakes and signs along the northern 1/4 mile of mile 288. The stakes extended from the vegetation line roughly 100 ft. onto the beach. I avoided the area and did not get close enough to read the signs. I noted the other people/dogs recreating along mile 288 remained on the foreshore.

Natural Changes

There was a significant amount of sand deposition leading up to the high tide or vegetation line since my last visit obscuring the high winter storm cutbanks.

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All Mile 288 Reports

Showing 8 of 57 reports

Mile 288

March 14, 2024

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

September 24, 2023

The weather is definitely turning.

SchankK

decorative elemnt for a coastwatch report.

Mile 288

September 10, 2023

It was a beautifully calm, warm, sunny day along mile 288.

SchankK

Mile 288

January 29, 2023

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

May 21, 2022

It was a beautiful, warm, sunny Saturday with a moderate north wind.

SchankK

Mile 288

January 17, 2022

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

December 23, 2021

There was clear indications of active foredune erosion with visible cutbanks (see photo) and significant debris.

SchankK

Mile 288

February 24, 2015

Mid-winter day that seemed like spring.

YaakovM