Mile 200 - Big Stump Beach, south Patterson SP - 08/22/2024

Report Details

It was a minus tide this cloudy morning and I could see a large group of pelicans off in the distance at Alsea Bay. Many gulls were eating and bathing in the slowly flowing Patterson Creek. As I crossed the creek walking south, I saw a crab pot on the beach near the ocean. There was a lot to cover on this wide beach so I decided to walk in the middle and periodically walk on the wrack line. Lots of seagrass, rocks, a pacific sea nettle, a few dead birds and tons of beach hoppers (aka sand fleas) in the wrack line. I wasn't the only one enjoying this beautiful morning - I saw almost 30 people walking, many with their dogs, and a few children playing on Big Stump beach. I turned around at the Big Stump and headed north by the dunes. There were a few fire pits and not much trash. As I continued north, I was happy to see the burnt area (from the brush fire last year) having lots of grass and ferns covering it now. On the north end of the burnt area, pieces of wood were added to form stairs to provide access from the 101 path to the beach. As usual, there's new graffiti added to the sandstone cliffs. Beautiful sea sandwort and american searocket are growing close to the dunes which have had more sand built up from the gentle summer waves and north winds. The path to 101 (near Sea Way Loop) goes through the dunes and is now very accessible due to the sand build up. Some of the birds I saw this morning were swallows, cormorants, pelicans, gulls, crows, and a turkey vulture.

Conditions

Temperature: 57 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: -0.70 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 29. Number of dogs: 11. Walking or running: 26. Sitting: 3.

Notable Wildlife

swallows (8-10) , cormorants(4) , pelicans (5) , gulls (30) , crows (5) , and a turkey vulture.

Beached Birds

3 murres, 1 unknown, 1 not sure if even a bird

Driftline Content

beach hoppers

Report Images

Dead birds

Near the dunes looking south

Path through the dunes to 101

Graffiti on the sandstone cliffs

Burnt area (from last year's brush fire)

Burnt area (from last year's brush fire) close up

Big Stump beach

crab pot near the ocean

Looking south

Gull bathing in Patterson Creek

Patterson Creek

Report Images

Karen Funk

CoastWatcher

All Mile 200 Reports

Date

Showing 8 of 49 reports

Mile 200

Big Stump Beach, south Patterson SP

August 22, 2024

It was a minus tide this cloudy morning and I could see a large group of pelicans off in the distance at Alsea Bay.

Karen Funk

Mile 200

Big Stump Beach, south Patterson SP

May 30, 2024

I was anxious to visit Mile 200 this week to see if there were tar deposits or any struggling birds due to the reported tar substance washing up on Oregon beaches.

Karen Funk