Mile 281 - Oceanside Beach, State Wayside, Agate Beach - October 11, 2014

Report Details

Foggy but warm lovely day. Note large amount of eel grass from tunnel south to the Capes. In this same area, unusually large number of dead murres. Saw one raven eating one dead murre. Examined notched log north of Oceanside access, reported in April, thought by Fawn Custer to be tsunami debris; did not see any unusual organisms( See photos).Birds seen or heard: wrentit, pelagic, Brandt and double crested cormorants, guillemots, scoters, gulls, song sparrow, raven, towhee, oystercatcher, white crowned sparrow, Horned grebe.More starfish than last time, all north of tunnel, seen only at low tide.Less trash but more beer cans and bottles than previously.

Conditions

Temperature: 60 F. Cloud Cover: Foggy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: -0.5 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 50. Number of dogs: 8. Walking or running: 42. Sitting: 4. Surfing: 2. Kayaking: 2. Collected 9 beer bottles, near or in tunnel at north end of Oceanside access.

Concerns

Litter

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 20.

Notable Wildlife

Wrentit heard today as well as 2 days ago. Noted 30 starfish, most seen with binoculars at low tide, at or below water line.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 24. At least 20 common murres, 1 western gull, 1 gull species, 2 likely but not certain also to be common murres

Driftline Content

Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt).

Natural Changes

Landslides/major boulder falls.