Mile 297 Report
Nehalem Beach, Nehalem Bay SP
March 27, 2021
This was a lovely day, warm and sunny with a light wind.
Report Details
This was a lovely day, warm and sunny with a light wind. At this early hours there were only 17 people walking the beach, one with a dog. However, there were 28 cars in the parking lot as it got closer to noon which meant many more people were coming down to the beach for spring break. The king tides have cut into the dunes leaving a long flat beach, with few logs showing and some steep climbs to get out. The signs to protect the Snowy Plover nesting are up encouraging most of the people to head north on the beach instead of south onto this mile. There were actually some plovers nestled in the sand where the dunes have been flattened which is exciting. One bird carcass, of a Northern Fulmar, dark morph was found. But there were no shorebird flocks or even gulls, and nothing in the driftline. While there was more human debris than usual, the only physical disturbance in the nesting area was what looked like Elk hoofs at the far end.
Conditions
Temperature: 50 F. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NW.
Human Activities
Number of people: 17. Number of dogs: 1. Walking or running: 17.
Notable Wildlife
There were some plovers toward the parking end, and i think some Snowy Plovers on the sand where the dunes have been flattened. There were also what i think were Elk tracks coming over the dunes in that area. They make a mess of the sand.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 1. One Northern Fulmar, dark morph
Dead Fish or Invertebrates
One interesting small skeleton. I will try to send a picture
Driftline Content
There was more human debris than i have seen for a long time. One large bag full. Some styrofoam.
Man-made Modifications
The grasses are growing in the area that was modified for the Snowy Plover nesting
Natural Changes
The King tides cut into the dunes leaving more beach, fewer logs, and a difficult climb out in some areas
NehalemBay
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