Mile 217 Report
Newport, Nye Beach north, Agate Beach south
August 27, 2010
It was a beautiful morning on the beach.
Report Details
It was a beautiful morning on the beach. There were only four cars counting ours at my access point at Agate Beach, and there were not a lot at Nye Beach Turnaround a little past the end of my mile, but somehow there were quite a few people enjoying the beach. I saw bicycle tracks and one (obscene) sand sculpture. There always seem to be people climbing on the exposed rocks at low tide, and today was no exception. The beach had formed more definite dunes than last month, and the water crossing the beach was of course lessened by the dryer weather.
Conditions
Temperature: 57 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: 1.8 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 25. Number of dogs: 4. Walking or running: 16. Photography: 1. Other Activities: 2 Sitting on Rock, 6 coming down bluff. I was disturbed by the people who were walking/sliding down the sandy bluff near Jumpoff Joe. A lot of sand is being lost there, and it's unfortunate that people use those dunes as beach access.
Concerns
Disturbances: Shorebirds moving in response to humans/dogs
Vehicles
Notable Wildlife
I saw 18 crows and 13 gulls on my walk, and there was a flock of about 20 small shore birds (I didn't get close enough to see what kind, but they did fly and resettle in response to my walking by, I'm sorry to say).
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 1. There was a carcass of a murre chick.
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea), Shells, Small rocks, Styrofoam, Wood pieces. As usual, there were many small plastic chips.
Natural Changes
There continues to be slow erosion along the sandy bluffs and in particular in the Jumpoff Joe area.
All Mile 217 Reports
Mile 217
Newport, Nye Beach north, Agate Beach south
Quick walk during mid-afternoon hours.
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Mile 217
Newport, Nye Beach north, Agate Beach south
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Mile 217
Newport, Nye Beach north, Agate Beach south
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Mile 217
Newport, Nye Beach north, Agate Beach south
Tentative ID of a pacific ray on the beach lying in run off stream that, according to linked Google map segment, that is located a little north of NW 20th in Newport, OR.
malachite
Mile 217
Newport, Nye Beach north, Agate Beach south
Last month we had contacted State Parks regarding the need for a Doggie Poop Station.
digincommunity
Mile 217
Newport, Nye Beach north, Agate Beach south
Last month we had contacted State Parks regarding the need for a Doggie Poop Station.
digincommunity
Mile 217
Newport, Nye Beach north, Agate Beach south
A large swath of the bluff is well vegetated with shore pines, willow and native shrubs like silverweed, and black twinberry.
digincommunity