Mile 202 - North Spit Alsea River - May 25, 2022 | Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition

Report Details

I walked today with my fellow CoastWatcher and Plover Patrol volunteer Nancy Thomas. A few days before, I had helped our Beach Ranger, Doug Sestrich, put up protective rope enclosures around Snowy Plover nests number 8 and 10 here on Mile 202 in Bayshore (BASH08A and BASH10A in the reporting terminology), and I had discovered a new one-egg nest, BASH11A. Today we found that BASH08A had failed, with new sand accretion in the area and no sign of where the nest had been. As we approached the BASH10A enclosure, we saw a woman leaving from inside the ropes. Nancy tracked her down on the beach (she was collecting rocks) and politely talked to her. Despite the intrusion, a bird was on the BASH10A nest, and of course we're careful to stay at a distance and not disturb an incubating bird. BASH11A now has two eggs, with a pair of plovers in the vicinity but no bird on the nest yet, as incubation doesn't typically begin until after a full clutch of three eggs is laid. As soon as weather permits, we'll help Doug remove the failed BASH08A ropes and hopefully rope BASH11A if the nest is still active. Of eleven Snowy Plover nests this year on Mile 202, nine have failed, and two remain active.

Conditions

Temperature: 58 F. Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: 3.5 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 10. Number of dogs: 2. Walking or running: 9.

Concerns

People/dogs/vehicles in closure areas

Apparent violations: A woman inside a Snowy Plover roped enclosure. See Summary..

Notable Wildlife

A group of about thirty Harbor Seals were sacked out on the beach just north of Alsea Bay, and more on the south beach. Usually the seals hang out on sandbars further into the bay. Nine Snowy Plovers were seen (see Summary). Two Bald Eagles were seen today and some Turkey Vultures, both more common here since the Steller Sea Lion stranding a month or so ago.

Stranded Marine Mammals

Today I photographed the remains of a female Steller Sea Lion first seen, photographed and reported on 5/1/2022. More of the carcass is still present after three weeks than I would have thought.

Driftline Content

Little driftline content

Natural Changes

Continuing sand accretion. See comparison photo of "Landmark" driftwood back in 2/2020 and now.

Report Images

BASH08A Snowy Plover roped nest enclosure

Roping a nest

Composite of Snowy Plover eggs camouflaged as beach rock

Composite of Steller Sea Lion carcass, 5/1/2022 and 5/25/2022

Harbor Seals hanging out on beach

Landmark Driftwood, 2/14/2020 and 5/25/2022

Sand Castles

Report Images

Jon French

CoastWatcher

All Mile 202 Reports

Date

Showing 8 of 62 reports

Mile 202

North Spit Alsea River

July 16, 2024

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

May 6, 2024

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

March 7, 2024

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

January 28, 2024

After finding forty beached Cassin's Auklets on Jan.

Jon French

Mile 202

North Spit Alsea River

October 30, 2023

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