Mile 330 Report

July 9, 2020
by sultanym

Location:
Clatsop
Sunset Beach, Sunset Lake
Conditions:
Thursday 9:30 AM
Party cloudy
60° F
Wind:
Calm/Light
Tide Level:
0.5 ft
Humans / Pets:
People:
52
Dogs:
5
Activities:
Walking / Running:
3
95% of all people on the beach were clamming at low tide
Concerns:
Litter
Apparent Violations:
Campfire litter (food wrapping, plastic, beer bottles) was evident around the remains of campfires.
Disturbances:
Vehicles:
Cars/Trucks on beach, allowed:
35
ATVs/OHVs on beach, allowed:
1
Activity Comments:
Large numbers of vehicles parked on the wet sand for clamming at low tide.
Notable Wildlife:
Dead Birds:
Total:
0
Stranded:
Total:
1
Freshly dead eastern pacific harbor porpoise. Dark gray back and creamy white belly. Small face and body size. Its body was 95% intact but its eyes were pecked out. The exact location can be seen on my iNaturalist observation which includes the GPS linked map and my photograph: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52487534
Fish & Invertebrates:
Driftline:
Animal casings (e.g. crab, shrimp molt)·Wood pieces·Land-based debris (picnics, etc.)
New Development:
Modifications:
Natural Changes:
Comments:
Summary:

I drove this mile in my vehicle while birdwatching. Notable dead animal sightings included a dead elk being scavenged by turkey vultures (see photos below), a dead harbor seal being eaten by turkey vultures (see photo) and a recently dead harbor porpoise 95% intact but had its eyes pecked out (see photo). I submitted an Oregon OSU Dead Marine Mammal Stranding Report via email. With a low tide of 0.5ft during my drive, many clammers had parked cars on the beach and were actively searching for clams, along with plentiful numbers of western and california gulls, as well as whimbrels foraging in the shallow water pools near a great blue heron. A sea watch yieleded the following avifauna: surf scoters, white-winged scoters, caspian terns (some males carrying fish in their bills to present to females for breeding), and brown pelicans. 

  • July 9, 2020
  • July 9, 2020
  • July 9, 2020
  • July 9, 2020
Other Mile 330 Reports (3)

2010

June 9, 2010 - Simonetal
kite cart driving on beach near dune base.
read more

2008

June 18, 2008 - alkarbeck
Normally we see far more people on the beach at this time but the clamming season is temporarily closed due to toxins. We picked up a lot of trash consisting mostly of plastic bottles.
read more
March 16, 2008 - alkarbeck
Nothing unusual these past months. Our area allows driving on the beach and we have many dog walkers. We have picked up a lot of trash in the last month of which most is plastic.
read more