Mile 202 Report
North Spit Alsea River
August 20, 2020
I planned my walk hoping to reach the northern tip of Alsea Spit around 8:45 a.
Report Details
I planned my walk hoping to reach the northern tip of Alsea Spit around 8:45 a.m. for the predicted low tide of -1.05. I thought it would be an easy walk over flat sand but hadn't counted on the stretches of exposed rough seafloor covered by standing water dotted with sand islands. The spit finally disappeared under water ahead and on either side and the tide beginning to come in. It was fun back home to export my smartphone GPS map of where I had walked onto Google Earth's most recent image of the spit and see how much of my walk had been over what was usually water. See photos and Google Earth/GPS screen grab.
Conditions
Temperature: 60 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Tide Level: -1.0 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 40. Number of dogs: 15. Walking or running: 30. Playing in sand: 10.
Notable Wildlife
Hundreds of Gulls mostly sitting along the edge of Alsea Bay and spit. A dozen Brown Pelicans diving for fish at the tip of the spit. Two Turkey Vultures scavenging on two Gull carcasses, other vultures just sitting on the sand. Snowy Plover tracks but none seen.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 2. Gull sp.
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt). Masses of marine worm casings, see photo. The Oregon Aquarium says: "These casings, produced by the Cellophane Worm (Spichaetopterus costarum), often wash ashore in masses during the spring and summer months along the Oregon Coast. Living just below the low tide line of sandy beaches, Cellophane Worms build and inhabit these seemingly plastic 'tubes', which become encrusted with sand. Currents and upwellings bring these tubes to the surface, eventually distributing them onto shore." Apparently, the worms themselves remain unharmed in the sand and begin building new homes.
Report Images
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Mile 202
North Spit Alsea River
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Mile 202
North Spit Alsea River
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North Spit Alsea River
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Mile 202
North Spit Alsea River
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Mile 202
North Spit Alsea River
As I began yesterday's mile walk and monthly COASST beached bird survey, a light rain began to fall, the first in months.
Jon French
Mile 202
North Spit Alsea River
As I have done before, I combined today's walk with my monthly COASST survey for dead seabirds.
Jon French
Mile 202
North Spit Alsea River
The beach was fairly cool today after 99 degrees two days ago.
Jon French