Mile 287 - Bayocean Peninsula north of Bayocean site 2 - December 5, 2017

Report Details

Lovely winter day for observing the last day of the December King Tides. Sunny, soft offshore breeze from the northeast, calm ocean. When the high tide was at its peak, waves covered the entire beach and reached the base of the foredune all along the mile, but did not overtop the foredune at any location. There were only 6 people walking on the mile during the 3 hours we visited, which is the fewest number we've observed in some time. Given recent reports of large numbers of pyrosomes being observed on the beaches in this area, we were surprised to see relatively few of them; those that we saw were very small, ranging from 1-3 inches in length. While we have observed dead seals on the beach during previous visits, this was the first time we've seen a carcass that was obviously an immature piniped. Of note, a private landowner has listed a 50 + acre Bayocean property for sale; property is located in the center of mile 287 and stretches west to east from the ocean to (and including) Tillamook bay.

Conditions

Temperature: 50 F. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NE. Tide Level: 9.4 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 6. Number of dogs: 2. Walking or running: 6. Tillamook County officials were grading and re-graveling the county beach access roadway and parking area at the time of our visit - a much needed and much appreciated improvement!

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 11.

Stranded Marine Mammals

Total stranded mammals: 1. Saw carcass of one small dead, decomposing piniped of unknown species, likely juvenile/subadult based on size. Marine mammal stranding report filed.

Driftline Content

Small rocks, Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces, Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Styrofoam, Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.). In addition to usual content, saw a number of small sized pyrosomes in driftline, but not in the large numbers that were being observed in this area at the end of November. A number of small jelly fish were also noted in driftline - lion's mane, moon, and comb jellies.

New Development

Section of private land on Bayocean Peninsula at center point of mile 287 is posted for sale. Site is an original part of the Bayocean resort community developed in 1906; described as a 50+ acre piece stretching west from the Pacific Ocean far eastward into the Tillamook Bay. The map provided on the sales brochure indicates that an area of the beach beyond the foredune is included in the boundary of the property, as are a substantial number of acres of land under the bay.

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C Nelson

CoastWatcher

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Mile 287

Bayocean Peninsula north of Bayocean site 2

March 17, 2024

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