Report Details

There were 5 people noted on our walk, which took 1 1/2 hours. One dog with one of the people. All were walking. The driftline had mainly pieces of wood, rocks, lots of crab shells. Some land-based debris, and a few ocean based items such as a wooden hatch, and another metal pot of some kind. There was one dead seal, quite decomposed, however with some identifiying gray skin. One dead bird, apparently a pelican as noted by beak. Banded with red, yellow, and orange bands on one leg. Also quite decomposed, but no sign of oil or netting. There was evidence of humans constructing shelter at the mid section of our mile - several logs in teepee like structure, with some tarp. The most exciting thing was the hundreds of brown pelicans flying in formation, flock after flock flying south. Some were coming from the Cape Meares lake area, others from the north. 250 to be exact. I believe they were brown pelicans, but they did have white necks and sometimes gray bodies rather than brown. Evidence of two horses entering and exiting from the Bay Ocean parking lot.

Conditions

Cloud Cover: Cloudy.

Human Activities

Number of people: 5. Number of dogs: 1.

Concerns

Disturbances: Shorebirds moving in response to humans/dogs

Notable Wildlife

250 Brown pelicans, many seagulls,

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 1. orange, yellow, red on one legPelican as noted by beak

Stranded Marine Mammals

Total stranded mammals: 1. Seal, dead for quite some time. Some skin still on, but mainly skeleton

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Shells, Small rocks, Styrofoam, Wood pieces. Not much land or ocean based debris

Natural Changes

This was my first survey, so nothing to compare it to

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All Mile 286 Reports

Showing 8 of 40 reports

Mile 286

Bayocean Peninsula south of Bayocean site

December 29, 2024

King tides 2 weeks ago Big storm with high winds S. Noted today that the sea rocket clumps are now dead but their roots are holding the sand in front of the dune line creating small mounds Fierce tidal movement around large pieces of driftwood have created channels (see photo)

Helen Welch

Mile 286

Bayocean Peninsula south of Bayocean site

December 9, 2024

Beautiful sunny winter day on the beach> Very quiet. Little wildlife noted with few birds New trees deposited by tide at dune line Eel grass remnants decreased

Helen Welch

Mile 286

Bayocean Peninsula south of Bayocean site

November 1, 2024

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

October 20, 2024

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

September 15, 2024

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

July 22, 2024

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

May 12, 2024

Walkers on the beach.

Helen Welch

Mile 286

Bayocean Peninsula south of Bayocean site

March 14, 2024

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