Mile 198 - Beachside State Park to Reynolds Creek - December 10, 2017

Report Details

Clear balmy 57' winter day. 1person 1 dog walking on beach. Clean beach. Notable were some drifts of cellophane tube worm( Spiochaetopterus costarum), mod. amount finger sized firm clear 4" unidentified sea creatures. ! carcass of western gull, recently predated. Most interesting were about 12-2"X4" clear flat rectangular leathery bodied sea creatures. Thickened rounded area and darker at one end ( almost chiton-like, without any bony plates.) Could not ascertain a head, spinal chord, GI tract. Clearly not a jelly fish. Not in any of my books. Pictures sent to Fawn Custer for help with ID. identified as a salp

Conditions

Temperature: 57 F. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: SW. Tide Level: 2.5 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 1. Number of dogs: 1. Walking or running: 1.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 1. Mature Western gull, predated chest area.-Eagle?

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

Unusual concentration. 1.Drifts of cellphone tube worm (Spiochaetopterus costarum). 2.Clear 3-4" firm clear finger-sized invertebrate along tide line.(Pyrosoma atlanticum) Up until January 2016, rarely found on the Oregon Coast 3. 2"X4" rectangular leathery transparent body with thickened, darker circular area at one end? head end? took several pictures, sent off for ID.( almost chiton-like; but no bony plates),( about 12 observed), no obvious mouth, no spinal chord or GI tract observed. Perhaps a tunicate? Order Salpida

Driftline Content

Small rocks, Shells. Clean beach, few pieces of plastic, stryrofoam removed.