Mile 220 - Yaquina Head north, Schooner Creek south - May 3, 2020

Report Details

What a fabulous day on 220! I am pretty sure I found a Laysan Albatross, what a majestic bird, the wings so long but incredibly light. We had quite a storm last night with hail and wind...perhaps what blew the bird onto the shore? He was a recent arrival as only his eyes and breast were eaten. The tide was low and the sand was expansive, not nearly the rockiness that is off and on on our beach. Lots of small plastics, nurdles, one large piece of rope with a buoy attached.

Human Activities

Number of people: 11. Number of dogs: 3. Walking or running: 7. Playing in sand: 1. Tidepooling: 1. Other Activities: biking. They appear to be about to pave the road to access Schooner South, very sad. It is now wider and looks like it will have more parking. The substation looks to be close-to-finished.

Concerns

Disturbances: Shorebirds moving in response to humans/dogs

Notable Wildlife

Gull and shore birds.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 1. Possible Laysan Albatross...absolutely beautiful large wingspan bird. I notified COASST and sent photos. Of course I found him on my non-beached bird beach!

Driftline Content

Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Styrofoam, Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.).

Man-made Modifications

Looks like they are about to pave down 68th, the access road is now a lot wider than it was previously.

Natural Changes

Landslides/major boulder falls, Major cracks appearing in bluffs, Newly exposed roots/trees falling, Visible retreat of solid bluff. The drainage pipes continue to fall out of the retreating bluff.