Mile 220 - Yaquina Head north, Schooner Creek south - February 15, 2017

Report Details

Three observations: First, there is more slippage than when I last went this way in fall of 2016. Second, the NW 68th access is a site of a pumping station for Newport. Today, I noticed that a new post has been placed there--it contains empty bags for persons to collect trash. There was already a full bag, I collected about 1/3 bag--as noted, the sand was very clean of plastic. What I picked up was in the cobblestones at the access. Third, I found a jaw bone and two other fragments. Since Hatfield was closed today (Wednesday) I will take them there for identification hopefully tomorrow. The size of the big fragment is 5 3/4 inches.NOTE: on Thursday, February 16 I took the jaw bone to HMSC--William Hanshumaker posited that it was a seal bone. A note to self: take Garmin for exact locations.

Conditions

Temperature: 54 F. Cloud Cover: Rain. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: 1.9 feet.

Human Activities

I was the only person present

Notable Wildlife

Only saw birds near 68th Street access. About 2 dozen ducks in the water--and 3 dozen seagulls.

Driftline Content

Wood pieces. The Sand was very clean--saw plastic bottlecaps, broken pieces of plastic, and some Styrofoam near 68th street--collected about 1/2 bag worth. The sand also had few shells.

Natural Changes

Landslides/major boulder falls. The access from NW 57th Street has slippage that was not present last fall. NOTE: Surfers went down a second path from NW Pinery near 55th Street. They used a rope attached to a tree to help themselves up, that path is no longer used because of slippage. Also, compared to last fall there are lot more rocks between access from NW 57th and the northern face of Yaquina Head, and in many places slippage can be seen. Also, from NW 57th there is more slippage going north toward NW 68th Street.