Mile 128 - North Beach on North Spit Coos Bay 4 - June 22, 2008

Report Details

On this beautiful day we also saw the shipwreck remains, previously seen by Jerry Chadwick and Dennis Phillips, now buried deeper in the sand.There also were at least two areas of ridge and runnel formation as sand moves onshore. Erosion of the foredune found the full length of mile. Two areas of pines had eroded from foredune. Large logs exposed in eroded foredune. Brown-red water pooled in footsteps near a riptide embayment at the north end of the mile. Shells, animal casings, sand dollars and eel grass in driftline. Large areas of broken shells. Many sand dollar fragments above riptide embayment. Many Brown Pelicans, 2 Turkey Vultures, 1 Crow, 2 Barn Swallows, 1 Bald Eagle and several flying cormorants. Two dead birds: Sooty Shearwater and juvenile gull. Moderate human impact (9)-4 walking, 5 horseback riding. Two dogs. Two ATV's in prohibited area. Low flying private aircraft. Small amount of litter.

Conditions

Temperature: 60 F. Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NW.

Human Activities

Number of people: 9. Number of dogs: 2. Walking or running: 4. Other Activities: horseback riding/ 5.

Concerns

Litter

Apparent violations: low flying personal aircraft (1).

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 5. ATVs/OHVs on beach, prohibited: 2.

Notable Wildlife

Many Brown Pelicans,2 Turkey Vultures, 1 Crow, 2 Barn Swallows, 1 Bald Eagle, several cormorants flying low, Cystosiera

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 2. Sooty Shearwater partially buried in lee of large log, and juvenile gull

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Shells, Small rocks, Wood pieces. eel grass, sand dollars, large area of broken shells including many sand dollar fragments above riptide embayment

Natural Changes

Erosion of vegetated foredune, Evidence of wave overtopping. Large diameter (2-21/2 ft) logs, parallel to beach exposed in dunes in from riptide embayment, large area of shells in riptide driftline

Actions & Comments

In sand exposed by low tide in the riptide area,brownish/reddish, clear water pooled in our footsteps, and also sloshed in the incoming and outgoing surf. Dave collected some in a baggie, thinking it might have cellular life, but found none. Possibly tannin from old Weyerhauser site inland from foredune?