Mile 239 Report
Salishan Spit north, Siletz Bay
September 8, 2018
A calm pleasant day.
Report Details
A calm pleasant day. There were THOUSANDS of squid egg cases in the tide line ... both along the ocean and on the Siletz Bay side of the Salishan Spit. People on the Taft side of the river were yelling at us because they thought we were getting too close to the seal colony. I appreciate their concern for the seal population but didn't appreciate the names they were calling us. I couldn't really get into a conversation explaining who we were across the river mouth so I just had to wave. No seals jumped in the water as a result of feeling disturbed. Regarding trying to view and count the seals, I realize we are supposed to stay 50 yards away. I find if I walk very slowly in their direction and don't look at them, kind of turning sideways so they don't think I'm getting too close, they do not get spooked. Once too many heads pop up, I back off. Also saw a skate egg case and a shark skeleton.
Conditions
Temperature: 60 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: W. Tide Level: 2.0 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 4. Walking or running: 4. Counted from a distance - 97 people and 4 dogs on the Taft side of the Siletz River mouth
Vehicles
Cars/trucks parking: 2.
Notable Wildlife
120+ harbor seals in their usual resting place on the Salishan Spit. One seal pup was by itself away from the group.
Dead Fish or Invertebrates
One fish skeleton, appeared to be a shark
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt). Squid egg cases
Natural Changes
Drop-offs typical of the summer beach
Report Images
ORbeach
CoastWatcher
All Mile 239 Reports
Mile 239
Salishan Spit north, Siletz Bay
A pleasant calm day on the holiday weekend.
Linda and Clyde
Mile 239
Salishan Spit north, Siletz Bay
A beautiful 70-degree day in mid-March .
Linda Reid
Mile 239
Salishan Spit north, Siletz Bay
Not a bad fall day for a walk with our out-of-town visitors, but walking the beach was impossible due to the high tide and big waves, which were reaching the beach grass area and bouncing large pieces of driftwood around.
ORbeach
Mile 239
Salishan Spit north, Siletz Bay
As nice a summer day as we get here on the coast.
ORbeach
Mile 239
Salishan Spit north, Siletz Bay
After a winter and spring of horrible weather, we finally got out to survey our mile on a mild day.
ORbeach
Mile 239
Salishan Spit north, Siletz Bay
Found a dead sea lion on the beach at beach access #50.
ORbeach