Mile 204 Report
Driftwood Beach Wayside, Buckley Creek
November 5, 2008
Our biggest observations were two-fold.
Report Details
Our biggest observations were two-fold. The huge number of small feathers in the tide lines and the total change in the surface of the beach from many wind rippled mounds to just the opposite: many large, wide shallow depressions filled with water.
Conditions
Temperature: 58 F. Cloud Cover: Rain. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Wind Direction: S. Tide Level: 1.5 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 2. Number of dogs: 3. Walking or running: 2. The other 2 persons we saw were just like us: Well bundled and ready for the weather and giving our dog an outing.
Concerns
Apparent violations: non.
Disturbances: Shorebirds moving in response to humans/dogs
Vehicles
Cars/trucks parking: 2.
Notable Wildlife
All along the coast from the bay at Waldport to Seal Rock, there were large flocks of birds sitting on the shoreline (tide line) We did not go close to them as we did not want the dog to disturb them. So, could not identify them, but, assume they were gulls.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 1. no leg band. badly decayed
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Shells, Small rocks, Wood pieces. many, many, many small feathers - all along the tideline.
Man-made Modifications
Dune modification/removal. In August we saw rippled mounds -- windblown like millions of mini steps. This time no mounds, but many wide shallow depressions filled with water (rain?)
Janets
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.
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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.
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Mile 204
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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