Mile 200 - Big Stump Beach, south Patterson SP - 11/07/2024

Report Details

What a beautiful sunny November morning to do the mile walk. Many people were walking and one person was riding an e-bike. Surprisingly, only two dogs. As I walked south from Patterson Creek, I noticed many large piles of bull kelp on the beach, clumps of sticks and feathers along the wrack line, periodic trash and a few moon jellies. I even saw pieces of pumpkin in the sand. After reaching the Big Stump, I turned around and headed north near the embankment underneath the houses. In this area, there was quite a bit of trash - water bottles, various pieces of rope, plastic pieces, shot gun shells and wood. A very large piece of wood with rusty metal attachments was on the beach near the embankment. A vehicle may be needed to remove it. In multiple places where the stairs come down to the beach from these homes, the bull kelp was piled up indicating that the high tides have already reached into this area. I saw a total of 12 dead birds throughout the walk. Some were fairly decomposed but not all. The path to 101 near SW Sea Way Loop is very accessible because the sand has really built up next to the dunes. Near this area, I was lucky to see 4 semipalmated plovers hanging out near a pile of bull kelp. The highlight of the walk!

Conditions

Temperature: 52 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: 4.27 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 18. Number of dogs: 2. Walking or running: 18.

Notable Wildlife

4 semipalmated plovers , gulls, crows

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 12. no bands visible, not sure the species

Driftline Content

feathers, moon jellies

Report Images

semipalmated plovers

semipalmated plover

Beach looking south

Beach looking north from the Big Stump

Bull kelp near stairs

Bull kelp near sandstone cliffs

Very large pieces of wood with metal and nails attached

Sand build up near 101 path (SW Sea Way Loop)

Sand build up near the dunes looking north

Trash

Dead birds

Report Images

Karen Funk

CoastWatcher

All Mile 200 Reports

Date

Showing 8 of 50 reports

Mile 200

Big Stump Beach, south Patterson SP

November 7, 2024

What a beautiful sunny November morning to do the mile walk.

Karen Funk

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