Mile 157 - Oregon Dunes NRA, west of Perkins Lake - November 13, 2010

Report Details

Drizzly day on Mile 157; my friend Patricia came along for the first time. Unusual number of dead birds (only once before have I found that many on this mile), but given that it's November and that most were northern fulmars, not that unusual. Most of the dead birds were very fresh, appeared to be juveniles. There were probably additional dead fulmars we didn't see. No crab molt at all; debris was almost entirely razor (and a few other) clam shells and tons of kelp--HUGE wads of kelp, and even several big rocks with kelp hold-fasts attached. Also an unusual number of large driftwood stumps on the beach. Saw almost no live birds (no sanderlings)--just a few gulls busy picking at the dead fulmars. There were large piles of debris at both beach trailheads; apparently beach walkers have collected debris and dumped it here for someone else to pack out.

Human Activities

Number of people: 2. Walking or running: 2.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 6.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 9. 7 northern fulmar1 rhinoceros auklet1 common murre

Stranded Marine Mammals

Total stranded mammals: 1. California sea lion, dead, fairly recent.

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Wood pieces.

Natural Changes

Erosion of vegetated foredune.

Actions & Comments

Foredune showed signs of recent erosion, but sand volume on beach still high (remains of fishing vessel Sanak not visible; buried under sand).

Report Images

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