Mile 171 Report
Heceta Beach South, almost to North Jetty
July 1, 2014
Best day of the year so far for beach walking - sunny, calm, and very warm!
Report Details
Best day of the year so far for beach walking - sunny, calm, and very warm!There is a mass stranding of gazillions of Velella velella aka "By-the-wind-Sailor" or "Sail jellyfish", all along the entire length of Mile 171 at Heceta Beach, Florence. My guide book says it is a surface-floating jellyfish-like hydroid colony 1-3" in length. The very short purple-blue fringes have stinging tentacles, but are harmless to humans.Three washed-up Ochre sea stars were observed. All showed signs of lesions and deflation - a common symptom of the "Sea Star Wasting Disease".
Conditions
Temperature: 75 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: 3.0 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 35. Number of dogs: 8. Walking or running: 20. Playing in surf: 6. Photography: 15.
Vehicles
Cars/trucks parking: 30.
Notable Wildlife
One Common Murre standing on the high tide line, calmly watching everyone walking by
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 2. unidentified gull species
Dead Fish or Invertebrates
Unusual concentration. Velella velella
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Shells.
Report Images
oldMGguy
CoastWatcher
All Mile 171 Reports
Mile 171
Heceta Beach South, almost to North Jetty
Nice morning to exercise the dog on Heceta Beach.
oldMGguy
Mile 171
Heceta Beach South, almost to North Jetty
Stunningly beautiful sunny morning for a beach stroll.
oldMGguy
Mile 171
Heceta Beach South, almost to North Jetty
Huge stranding of brownish-red "Pacific Sea Nettle" (Chrysaora fuscescens) and Moon (Aurelia labiata) jellies all along Mile 171 and Mile 172 today.
oldMGguy
Mile 171
Heceta Beach South, almost to North Jetty
Nice sunny afternoon for a stroll on Heceta Beach.
oldMGguy
Mile 171
Heceta Beach South, almost to North Jetty
Whimbrels and sanderlings were feeding in the surf wash zone.
oldMGguy
Mile 171
Heceta Beach South, almost to North Jetty
A nice morning walk today in the sunshine to practice my social distancing skills.
oldMGguy
Mile 171
Heceta Beach South, almost to North Jetty
Another nice Saturday afternoon for a stroll on Heceta Beach!
oldMGguy
Mile 171
Heceta Beach South, almost to North Jetty
A nice quiet wind-free afternoon to stroll Heceta Beach after the summer crowds have dispersed.
oldMGguy