September 17, 2009

Report Details

A peaceful day on Mile 134, thanks to the passingof Labor Day. Still a good number of RV's in theHorsfall campground, with ATV's ready to hit thedunes and beach.Much litter on the beach, which I'm sure the SOLVBeach Clean-up 2 days later took care of. One pallet and many pieces of large lumber. Found5 dead murres, 1 dead gull. Also deceased, anddecomposed were two very large birds, wingspans 3 feet or more, with long, dark hooked beaks. Back to my bird guide...perhaps wedge-tailed shearwaters? A dozen pelicans were flyingin perfect formation. Much bright green grassdistributed along the waterline, along with wholecrabs, jellies of all sizes, shells and carapaces.The foredune is greening up with recent rain, anda very pretty succulant type vine is growing atits base. It is aggressively spreading upto 100 ft. toward the sea. But its days in thesun are numbered; sand is already being distributed along the base of the foredune.The only dog I saw was enjoying the beach withher owners on a flexi-lead. Had the Boxer thatattacked my horse while I was riding 2 miles southa week ago been on a flexi, much trauma could havebeen avoided. I see in another part of the CoastWatch webpage that loose dogs are becoming anincreasing problem. How much havoc do dogs, extensions of their human owners, cause among thewildlife in Oregon? The wild things have enoughto contend with just earning their livings and staying alive, without being harrassed, injuredand killed by people's pets. I have to share something cute overheard in theHorsfall parking lot, which sits about 20 ft. above sea level. Two women drove in and askedthe maintenance man where the waterfall was. Hesaid, "We don't have any waterfalls around here."One woman shook her head with authority: "Yes,it's called Horsfall!"