Mile 202 Report
North Spit Alsea River
January 30, 2020
Another beautiful walk on Mile 202, highlighted by seeing 30-40 Western Snowy Plovers scattered along the upper portions of the sand perhaps 100 yards North and South of Beach Access 67C (Bayshore South), a stretch of sandy beach and rolling dunes a half mile or so north of the tip of Alsea spit (see photos, one bird with orange leg bands).
Report Details
Another beautiful walk on Mile 202, highlighted by seeing 30-40 Western Snowy Plovers scattered along the upper portions of the sand perhaps 100 yards North and South of Beach Access 67C (Bayshore South), a stretch of sandy beach and rolling dunes a half mile or so north of the tip of Alsea spit (see photos, one bird with orange leg bands). These small shorebirds live and nest on sandy beaches and were listed in 1993 as threatened species under the Endangered Species Act because of loss of habitat, predators, and human disturbance. Portland Audubon estimates the current number of individuals along the Oregon coast at 500. The beach here is managed as an Oregon Shore State Recreation Area by the Oregon State Department of Parks and Recreation. Nesting season is March-September, and if any active nests are discovered, they will be protected by Parks and Recreation. On my previous walk, the plovers were further south on the beach but perhaps have moved north because of the new smooth sand deposits to the south. I will continue to monitor and will be attending a Plover Patrol workshop in April for training.
Conditions
Temperature: 52 F. Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: S. Tide Level: 2.7 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 12. Number of dogs: 14. Walking or running: 12. Other Activities: Except for entering/leaving beach, people and dogs tend to stay on wet sand close to water.
Notable Wildlife
30-40 Western Snowy Plovers (see Summary)
Driftline Content
Shells, Wood pieces, Styrofoam, Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.). Of three plastic bottles found on beach, all were marked with oriental script. According to Google, one bottle, Cest Bon (see photo), is a Chinese brand of mineral water. Another bottle, Calpis, is a Japanese uncarbonated soft drink. The third bottle could not be identified as to brand but contained oriental script. It seems likely, then, that this debris doesn't result from local fishing/crabbing activities but comes from a distance. This is interesting, and I'll continue to try and identify these ocean travelers. I removed all debris.
Natural Changes
Towards the Southern half of Mile 202, where the rolling dunes transition to steep sand bluffs, the storms of the last two weeks have brought in much additional sand (see photos), as much as perhaps three feet of sand drifts blown up towards the base of portions of the bluffs. On the bay side of the spit, however, erosion at the base of a house previously photographed has increased some, and a portion of the driftwood "fence" along the property (don't know if natural or man-made) has fallen down towards the beach (see current photo and photo from previous report)
Report Images
All Mile 202 Reports
Mile 202
North Spit Alsea River
Today was the first windless day in awhile, shirtsleeve weather with a calm sea and a distinct marine layer offshore.
Jon French
Mile 202
North Spit Alsea River
Bayshore's HOA recently spent $2,500 for permits and bulldozing a path down to the beach behind the Bayshore clubhouse, a designated public access, smoothing out the drop-off resulting from winter erosion and restoring access for beach goers and our State Parks ranger's ATV.
Jon French
Mile 202
North Spit Alsea River
Mile 202 beach accesses and exits are now restricted because of erosion and sheering off of the sand cliffs along its northern portion, so I now need to plan for a receding tide if I want to walk the entire mile safely.
Jon French
Mile 202
North Spit Alsea River
After finding forty beached Cassin's Auklets on Jan.
Jon French
Mile 202
North Spit Alsea River
A beautifully calm, sunny day, maybe the last for awhile, with a fifteen mile view from Seal Rock to Cape Perpetua and hardly anyone on the beach except for two surf fishers and a couple valiantly trying to launch a kite with no wind.
Jon French
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