Mile 204 Report
Driftwood Beach Wayside, Buckley Creek
June 24, 2020
I walked Mile 204 today for CoastWatch along with Miles 203-205 looking for snowy plover nests.
Report Details
I walked Mile 204 today for CoastWatch along with Miles 203-205 looking for snowy plover nests. Three chicks have hatched this nesting season on Miles 203/205, and beach ranger Doug Sestrich roped off a new nest on the northern border of 203 this morning, but no nests have been found so far on Mile 204. I began walking at a minus tide, and the flat Driftwood beach seemed to go out to sea forever. The beach was misty and almost deserted, just a few people walking along the shore, a couple of people on those new fat tire electric bicycles, and one intrepid surf fisherman.
Conditions
Temperature: 58 F. Cloud Cover: Foggy. Tide Level: -1.0 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 12. Number of dogs: 5. Walking or running: 9. Fishing: 1. Other Activities: 2 people on electric fat tire bicycles.
Notable Wildlife
A few gulls and crows, and approx 5 snowy plovers in a group, standing, flying, running, fighting. Although I didn't see any Seaside Hoary Elfin butterflies, the Driftwood Beach Wayside is one of only two sites in Oregon where this subspecies is found. Much like the Monarch butterfly is dependent upon milkweed, the Seaside Hoary Elfin is associated with the native plant Kinnikinnick, which is subject to being displaced in coastal areas by invasive/introduced species like European Beach Grass and Scotch Broom.
Driftline Content
Small rocks, Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Wood pieces. No debris
New Development
Not new, but see attached photo of a typical beach scene with dunes backed by forest and a typical view of some of the 20 or so houses that overlook the beach on this mile.
Man-made Modifications
Not new, but see the sand petroglyphs at the Buckley Creek sand bluff, including the fading "Time Is Important" message, and the before and after photos of the once substantial driftwood leanto just north of the creek.
Natural Changes
See the attached photo of a partial collapse of the Buckley Creek sand bluff where the creek enters the beach.
Time Is Important
Buckley Creek petroglyphs
Bluff collapse, Buckley Creek
Driftwood leanto, before
Driftwood leanto, after
Kinnikinnick
Dunes, forest, houses, Mile 204
Report Images
Jon French
CoastWatcher
All Mile 204 Reports
Mile 204
Driftwood Beach Wayside, Buckley Creek
Mile 204 isn't my usual mile, so I've waited to walk it again until work resumed on PacWave South's wave energy testing project at Driftwood Beach Wayside. https://pacwaveenergy.
Jon French
Mile 204
Driftwood Beach Wayside, Buckley Creek
Today marked my latest sighting of the old growth driftwood log that I've admired and whose comings and goings from Driftwood Beach I've documented since June 2020, when I first photographed it high on the beach south of Buckley Creek.
Jon French
Mile 204
Driftwood Beach Wayside, Buckley Creek
I had read that the 265-foot vessel Seacor Lee would be anchoring a mile off Driftwood Beach in support of OSU's PacWave South wave energy testing project, positioned so that divers from the ship could perform work on previously installed seafloor conduits.
Jon French
Mile 204
Driftwood Beach Wayside, Buckley Creek
I haven't walked Driftwood Beach regularly since the PacWave South wave energy project completed work underground in the Driftwood parking lot.
Jon French
Mile 204
Driftwood Beach Wayside, Buckley Creek
By the time I got to Driftwood Wayside, a lot of people had already arrived for their New Years Day beach walks, some 30 vehicles in the parking lot and 30 - 40 people down on the beach, accompanied by at least half as many dogs, almost all leashed.
Jon French
Mile 204
Driftwood Beach Wayside, Buckley Creek
This was probably the last dependably dry Mile 204 walk before the rains begin in earnest.
Jon French
Mile 204
Driftwood Beach Wayside, Buckley Creek
After the morning fog lifted and before the marine layer moved in, I walked from Seal Rock on Mile 205 to Beach Access 66C on Mile 203.
Jon French
Mile 204
Driftwood Beach Wayside, Buckley Creek
Driftwood Wayside is open again after PacWave's departure, but I was the only visitor on this breezy, drizzly day.
Jon French