Report Details

This was a lovely day, warm and sunny with a light wind.  At this early hours there were only 17 people walking the beach, one with a dog.  However, there were 28 cars in the parking lot as it got closer to noon which meant many more people were coming down to the beach for spring break.  The king tides have cut into the dunes leaving a long flat beach, with few logs showing and some steep climbs to get out. The signs to protect the Snowy Plover nesting are up encouraging most of the people to head north on the beach instead of south onto this mile.  There were actually some plovers nestled in the sand where the dunes have been flattened which is exciting. One bird carcass, of a Northern Fulmar, dark morph was found.  But there were no shorebird flocks or even gulls, and nothing in the driftline.  While there was more human debris than usual, the only physical disturbance in the nesting area was what looked like Elk hoofs at the far end.

Conditions

Temperature: 50 F. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NW.

Human Activities

Number of people: 17. Number of dogs: 1. Walking or running: 17.

Notable Wildlife

There were some plovers toward the parking end, and i think some Snowy Plovers on the sand where the dunes have been flattened. There were also what i think were Elk tracks coming over the dunes in that area. They make a mess of the sand.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 1. One Northern Fulmar, dark morph

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

One interesting small skeleton. I will try to send a picture

Driftline Content

There was more human debris than i have seen for a long time. One large bag full. Some styrofoam.

Man-made Modifications

The grasses are growing in the area that was modified for the Snowy Plover nesting

Natural Changes

The King tides cut into the dunes leaving more beach, fewer logs, and a difficult climb out in some areas

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All Mile 297 Reports

Showing 8 of 62 reports

Mile 297

October 22, 2023

The sky was mostly cloudy with some patches of fog and noticeable blobs of sea foam on wet sand.

Platypus Custard

decorative elemnt for a coastwatch report.

Mile 297

September 4, 2023

A nice warm partly cloudy day with a large group enjoying the picnic area by the parking lot.

NehalemBay

decorative elemnt for a coastwatch report.

Mile 297

June 6, 2023

It was a blustery sunny day with 3 horse back riders and one walker on the beach.

NehalemBay

decorative elemnt for a coastwatch report.

Mile 297

March 18, 2023

A nice bright day with a large group of birders from 30 cars looking for Snowy Plovers when I started but only 13 people walking or sitting on the beach on my way back.

NehalemBay

decorative elemnt for a coastwatch report.

Mile 297

December 15, 2022

This was a sunny, cold, blustery day with 8 people and 2 dogs walking or biking(1) on the extensive beach.

NehalemBay

decorative elemnt for a coastwatch report.

Mile 297

September 6, 2022

This was a sunny calm day with few people on the beach.

NehalemBay

decorative elemnt for a coastwatch report.

Mile 297

June 15, 2022

This was a nice day with clouds and little wind.

NehalemBay

decorative elemnt for a coastwatch report.

Mile 297

March 8, 2022

This was a nice cloudy day with only 4 cars in the parking lot and four people on the beach, one with a dog.

NehalemBay