Mile 219 - North end of Agate Beach, Yaquina Head south - December 12, 2022

Report Details

It has been a beautiful, calm morning at Yaquina Head with low wind and one visitor. The main observation of note is the injured gull on Cobble Beach. I am still working on contacting a care facility to see if a rescue may be possible. There was also a freshly dead cormorant on the beach with no apparent tags. Finally, there were about 32 seals hauled out on offshore rocks in Quarry Cove. They are quite close to the beach but didn't seem bothered by my presence. Large crowds or dogs might spook them.

Conditions

Temperature: 41 F. Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: SW. Tide Level: 4.5 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 1. Other Activities: Picking up litter on the beach.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 1.

Notable Wildlife

One juvenile gull on Cobble Beach with a broken wing. It appeared otherwise healthy but unable to fly. I called the Oregon Coast Aquarium, but they are not taking birds now due to the avian influenza. Chintimini Wildlife Refuge in Corvallis is taking birds, but we don't have anyone able to drive all the way out there today. I am currently trying to get in touch with the north coast wildlife center in Astoria to see if they have any volunteers in the area today. There were about 32 seals hauled out on the offshore rocks in Quarry Cove. They were hauled out quite close to the beach and observations decks, but didn't seem bothered by my presence. I wonder if a dog or a larger crowd would cause them to flush.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 4. Three birds were essentially down to bone, so I was unable to identify them. One was a very fresh pelagic cormorant with no band.

Driftline Content

Small rocks, Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces.