Mile 287 Report
Bayocean Peninsula north of Bayocean site 2
April 16, 2025
A quiet spring day along Mile 287, breezy and brisk, with very few folks present during the afternoon.
Report Details
A quiet spring day along Mile 287, breezy and brisk, with very few folks present during the afternoon. It's always enjoyable to view the coastal bird life; the shorebirds and bald eagles are always a pleasure. The sand accretion since my last visit was notable; all the foredune areas that had previously looked eroded are now completely filled in. The beach was remarkably free of human debris - while this visit was intended to be an Earth Day clean-up day, I saw very little trash anywhere on the mile and picked up less than half a bag of garbage. Modifications of the foredune on the private lot at the mid-point of the mile continue. All in all, another great walk at the coast!
Conditions
Temperature: 57 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Tide Level: 4.0 feet.
Activities
Number of people: 6. Number of dogs: 2. Walking or running: 6.
Other Activities: Very few folks out on this clear but breezy day; all were walking along the surf line. Of note, there was a set of tire tracks along the length of the beach. Since I had seen a state park ranger in a pickup headed west when I was on my way to the parking area, I made the assumption that these tracks were made by a ranger who was monitoring the area..
Notable Wildlife
There was a small group of whimbrels, accompanied by a number of sanderlings, feeding in the surf line. Enjoyed watching two large flocks of sandpipers scavenging along the surf line as well. At differing times along the mile, saw 2 mature and 3 juvenile bald eagles soaring either separately or in pairs above the ridge. No other wildlife of note.
Dead Fish or Invertebrates
Unusual concentration. Saw a large number of dried carcasses of velella velella distributed along the length of the mile; they had probably been deposited on the shore at least a week previously, if not longer.
Wrackline Content
There were a few broken pieces of jellyfish and lots of velella velella carcasses in the wrack line, but very little debris (one plastic water bottle, one plastic bag).
Man-made Modifications
Dune modification/removal. While the largest portion of the Bayocean spit is a Tillamook county park, there are still a few a pieces of privately owned property interspersed along the peninsula. One of these butts up against the dunes adjoining Mile 287. This lot is actively used as a camp site and over the years a number of foredune modifications have been made there (trails cut through the foredune from the camp site behind the dune to the beach, sand removed to create flat platforms at the top of the foredune, flagpoles erected at the top of the dune). On this visit, noted that additional flattened areas had been created on the face of the foredune to allow for unobstructed viewing over the ocean (see photo). Given this is private property, it is likely not a legal violation so was not reported.
Foredune development
Report Images
C Nelson
CoastWatcher
All Mile 287 Reports
Mile 287
Bayocean Peninsula north of Bayocean site 2
A quiet spring day along Mile 287, breezy and brisk, with very few folks present during the afternoon.
C Nelson
Mile 287
Bayocean Peninsula north of Bayocean site 2
A wonderful day on mile 287; sunny, relatively warm, light breeze.
C Nelson
Mile 287
Bayocean Peninsula north of Bayocean site 2
The cloudy marine layer that was present when we first arrived eventually burned off, providing us with a pleasant but breezy sunny afternoon for our visit. 1) We encountered an intact hull of a fiberglass boat on the mid-section of the mile; photos and location information was provided to the State Park Ranger so it could be retrieved from the beach. 2) There had been a massive influx of velella velella (by-the-wind sailors) washed ashore several days before our visit. 3) Given the number of folks in the parking area when we arrived, we had expected to see more folks on mile 287 but encountered just a typical number of visitors. 4) There was more detritus on the beach than we've seen in recent previous visits.
C NELSON
Mile 287
Bayocean Peninsula north of Bayocean site 2
A lovely, busy day at the beach on this sunny, late summer SOLVE clean up day.
C Nelson
Mile 287
Bayocean Peninsula north of Bayocean site 2
An absolutely gorgeous summer day -- warm, clear, sunny, light breeze.
C Nelson
Mile 287
Bayocean Peninsula north of Bayocean site 2
We were disappointed that the SOLVE beach clean-ups have not been re-initiated following the pandemic, so decided to do our own.
C Nelson
Mile 287
Bayocean Peninsula north of Bayocean site 2
The primary purpose of this visit was to observe the impact of the last of this winters king tides.
C Nelson
Mile 287
Bayocean Peninsula north of Bayocean site 2
Remarkably clear smooth sand with small amount of driftwood pushed high up the beach.
JuliaH