Mile 171 - Heceta Beach South, almost to North Jetty - May 5, 2010

Report Details

A very pleasent evening on Heceta Beach. Observed one out-of-control dog chasing feeding sanderlings up the beach for a considerable distance. Lots of migrating shorebirds heading north. Brown pelicans were plunge-feeding off-shore, with a pair of lesser terns cruising the near surf. Common loons, western grebes, and cormorants were feeding in the Siuslaw River, and a mixed group of sanderlings, semi-palmated plovers, dunlins, and dowitchers were feeding on the springtail bugs on the river estuary shoreline.A dead juvenile sea lion (about 6' long) has washed ashore about 1/3 mile north of the Siuslaw river North Jetty. No obvious injuries, but the scavengers have already removed a lot of soft tissue.

Conditions

Temperature: 55 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: W.

Human Activities

Number of people: 10. Number of dogs: 3. Walking or running: 4. Playing in sand: 2. Sitting: 2. Fishing: 1.

Concerns

Disturbances: Shorebirds moving in response to humans/dogs

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 9.

Notable Wildlife

Numerous large flocks of sanderlings feeding in the wet sand, brown pelicans plunge-feeding off-shore, lesser terns cruising the surf. Western grebes, common loons, double-crested cormorants, short-billed dowitchers, semipalmated plovers, sanderlings, and dunlins feeding in the Siuslaw River jetty estuary.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 1. large cormorant

Stranded Marine Mammals

Total stranded mammals: 1. Dead sea lion. Appears to be a yearling, about 6' long, no obvious injuries, but major scavanger damage.

Driftline Content

Shells.