April 20, 2024

Temperature: 60 F. Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Tide Level: 1 feet.

Number of people: 121. Number of dogs: 18. Walking or running: 60. Sitting: 30. Tidepooling: 36. Fishing: 3. Other Activities: 11 dogs were off leash, with 3 having to be separated from aggression by owners. Many kites being flown and enjoyed. One powered hang glider was having fun above and along the beach.. The State Park patrol was seen driving on the beach but could not get past several rock areas with logs. He did get out & walk the remaining beach area and was picking up some agates, shells or rocks.

Climbing bluffs/seastacks, Driftwood removal

Apparent violations: Four young kids were climbing up the sand bluffs and knocking lose a lot of sand. The parents were watching but did not stop them, even after one kid slid down about 20 foot. (see picture) Many logs have been recently cut and removed all along the beach. (see picture).

Disturbances: Shorebirds moving in response to humans/dogs

ATVs/OHVs on beach, allowed: 1.

Dozens of pelicans were seen to have returned after a winter break. A large "V" of geese were seen flying north above the beach. 3 black oystercatchers and dozens of cormorants were seen on the rocks. Dogs were causing them and the gulls to leave the rocks as the tide got lower and the humans and dogs could access the rocks. On the south bank of the Siletz River, ~120 seals were sunny on the beach; until a beach walker and dog scared them into the river. Some stayed in the river while others swam out to sea. One osprey was fishing and hovering over the Siletz River and low beach grass dunes. The osprey calls and antics were entertaining several of us viewers.

Total dead birds: 1. One dead gull was found without a leg band.

Thousands of velella velella were washed up on shore and stinking. Some were dried and observed flying high up in the wind.

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

Bluff development. The new house on the edge of the sand dune does not seem to be making much progress, still working on concrete foundation on the very steep hill.

Landslides/major boulder falls, Erosion of vegetated foredune. The sand dune under Ester Lea continues to erode and plant material coming down. The kids were also causing sand and rock to fall. Significant erosion appears to have occurred on the north bank of the Siletz River near where it goes into the Pacific. A new channel is forming parallel to the river and eating into the sand foredune. Last month the sand was a fairly flat slope and now there is about an 8 foot sand cliff. (see picture) Typical as summer returns, significant amounts of sand is returning in some areas. Further north of the Siletz River sand is being deposited and forming a new sand dune where last month it was flat with a long beach.