Mile 243 Report
Wecoma Beach, Lincoln City
September 5, 2023
The Morning After Labor Day weekend is a lovely time on the Oregon Coast.
Report Details
The Morning After Labor Day weekend is a lovely time on the Oregon Coast. A few things were notable even if not totally rare: Significant number of groups of three pelican all flying north. Usually groups vary from 3 to maybe 12 or more but there were probably 20 or more groups of only three. Also in threes, tuna trollers. Typically one or maybe two but three very close to the shore which might have explained the pelicans.The 3' - 5' bank of sand near the tide line had been smoothed in the last week and the beach was more gently sloped again.The bank had trapped a number of "large lakes" closer to the bank and these were drying up leaving a cracking layer of sediments in interesting patterns. See photo attached but the sediments were much darker than appear in the photo and quite fragrant.Instead of a separate Dispatch, I will combine observations on September 7 of three dead sea lions.. again interestingly the number three. All were within about 200 yards near NW 30th, Lincoln City. One was very fresh, one not so fresh, and a smaller partial that was well decayed. Unusual to find three so close together at the same time. Again, photos attached.
Conditions
Temperature: 60 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: 2.0 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 115. Number of dogs: 10. Playing in surf: 5. Sitting: 4. Tidepooling: 35. Surfing: 1. Vehicle access has continued to be closed making the beach less hostile and people more reasonable.
Notable Wildlife
Significant number of pelicans, almost all in groups of three which is unusual, all flying north.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 5. Decayed, not able to identify
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass.
Wecoma Beach 09/05/2023
Sediment from drying beach lakes, Wecoma Beach 09052023. It was much darker than the sunny photo shows and very fragrant
Adult sea lion, no visible signs of injury but recently dead. Close to low tide line,
Adult dead sea lion, not fresh, closer to the bank than surf
Significantly decayed critter, assume sea lion
Report Images
garretta
CoastWatcher
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