Report Details

Surf rough, tide going out. Sub-adult gulls feeding in the receding waves, "kneading" the wet sand with their feet to bring up mole crabs. Pelicans beginning to gather; 25 on the rocks on mile 307; 3 on the sand on mile 306.No sign of the bald eagles, however, even better, an adult peregrine falcon perched on the eagle snag over the beach. Earlier today, two humpback whales came in close, just beyond the breakers. They regaled us with flipper flashes, headstands, and glimpses of backs and heads as they preyed on a school of 2 ft long fish (mackerel?). Pelicans and bachelor sea lions joined in. They stayed within a 1/4 mile of shore for over an hour -- then disappeared. Quite a treat.A raft of sea lions floated by, waving their flippers in the air. Some people call the behavior "jugging"; it apparently involves temperature control. If you count the flippers and divide by 3, you can estimate the number of sea lions.... About 20 in this group.One family on the beach making sand castles. One reader with her dog (loose, well-behaved). And me. Wrack line: thousands of mole crab carapaces, large molted Dungeness crab shells, broken large mussels and razor clams. 9 dead birds: 4 common murres, 2 pigeon guillemots, 1 western gull, 1 unidentifiable.

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All Mile 306 Reports

Showing 8 of 35 reports

Mile 306

January 19, 2024

We walked the mile on a clear, chilly afternoon. We picked up trash--one full bag. We found a little eel, the same color as brown rockweed! We saw sea foam blowing on the sand. We found a small skull bone. We found a scientific measuring device planted in the cobble with a float saying that it was the property of OSU.

Fire Mountain School

decorative elemnt for a coastwatch report.

Mile 306

January 7, 2024

Sorry no photos due to lack of phone on this walk.

Scott Penzarella

decorative elemnt for a coastwatch report.

Mile 306

March 15, 2023

Just wanted to report seeing 8 black oystercatchers on the beach just now.

jkcornelius

Mile 306

September 30, 2022

Today was our first CoastWatch beach survey.

Fire Mountain School

Mile 306

July 2, 2022

jkcornelius

decorative elemnt for a coastwatch report.

Mile 306

June 29, 2022

An eagle was obtaining breakfast from Gull Rock.

jkcornelius

Mile 306

November 8, 2021

These observations were made over the last 3 months walking the beach at different times of day but not keeping a record which I will try to start.

jkcornelius

decorative elemnt for a coastwatch report.

Mile 306

August 8, 2019

Numerous violations observed, including campfire in unsafe location and harvesting tidepool organisms in the marine reserve.

Frankie