Mile 286 Report
Bayocean Peninsula south of Bayocean site
January 28, 2024
Busier day than seen in past few months.
Report Details
Busier day than seen in past few months. Warm for January. Cloudy but dry after first the ice storm followed by King tides and strong southerly and southwesterly winds. @ bikers on fat tire bikes. 6 walkers with dogs. One on leash. No shore birds present today although huge rafts seen on Tillamook Bay on way into walk. Large driftwood tree (noted in prior reports as "the octopus tree") has been lifted from sand and rotated through 180 degrees so trunk now facing NW.
Conditions
Temperature: 57 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Tide Level: 6.9 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 8. Number of dogs: 6. Walking or running: 8. Other Activities: Fat tire bike riding x 2. Dog walking. All but 1 off leash. Not harassing shorebirds. More human activity than usual. First dry day after ice storm followed by rain and flooding.
Concerns
Notable Wildlife
No birds seen. (Large rafts noted during walk in on Tillamook Bay)
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 1. No banding. Common Murre. 45.52294 N 123.95428 W
Driftline Content
Small rocks, Shells, Wood pieces, Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea). South westerly winds for prior few days and king tides so beach scoured. Small rocks and shells at high tide line covered with sand had to move sand to see what was underneath. Sand sculpted around driftwood. Most large driftwood pieces have been moved up towards high tide line close to dunes. Large driftwood tree (noted in prior reports as "the octopus tree") has been lifted from sand and rotated through 180 degrees so trunk now facing NW.
Natural Changes
Erosion of vegetated foredune. Some encroachment of tide into dune line. Large driftwood tree (noted in prior reports as "the octopus tree") which lies south of the milepost marker 29 has been lifted from sand and rotated through 180 degrees so trunk now facing NW.
Report Images
All Mile 286 Reports
Mile 286
Bayocean Peninsula south of Bayocean site
Beautiful walk today on an all but deserted Oregon beach. Eels grass still present but again smaller amounts than over the summer months. Recently deceased seal washed up close to high tide line
Helen Welch
Mile 286
Bayocean Peninsula south of Bayocean site
Quiet day on the beach following 2 very high 8. 2 dogs off leash not near wildlife Significant decrease in amount of eel grass likely due to scouring from high tide Fishing boat debris in dune line Noticing a lot more Sea Rocket at edge of dune grass.
Helen Welch
Mile 286
Bayocean Peninsula south of Bayocean site
Beautiful early fall Oregon coast day. Copious amounts eel grass in clumps (see photos) especially at north end of beach Subjectively more "sea rocket" at dune line Large flock sanderlings (>50) dancing between seas edge and high tide line 2 pelicans
Helen Welch
Mile 286
Bayocean Peninsula south of Bayocean site
Warm windy day on Oregon coast. Area of beach cordoned off from dunes to 45. Unable to follow high tide line for whole mile due to this. Seal carcass providing food for juvenile bad eagle and scavengers Pacific Sea Nettle jelly fish noted
Helen Welch
Mile 286
Bayocean Peninsula south of Bayocean site
Beautiful Oregon coast bluebird day. Large wash up of old velella casings at high tide line creating a very strong "ocean" odor Very little trash on my mile of beach but collections of bottles and styrofoam found further down closer to Cape Meares (collected and disposed of) Few sea birds today
Helen Welch
Mile 286
Bayocean Peninsula south of Bayocean site
Recent king tides encroaching onto and undercutting fore dune. More debris than usual. A few shore birds Little human activity Large "octopus tree" I have been following has rotated again and the trunk now points NE. I continue to take photo facing N and S at the high tide line at the MP 29 sign entrance to the beach
Helen Welch
Mile 286
Bayocean Peninsula south of Bayocean site
Busier day than seen in past few months.
Helen Welch