Mile 299 Report
South end Manzanita Beach
November 24, 2009
Beautiful, calm, warm day.
Report Details
Beautiful, calm, warm day. Few people around. Beachcombing interesting because of recent storms. * There were at least ten recently beached big driftwood logs. One a well worn cedar. Also smaller logs and pieces of wood that had been in the water a long time. Some with Pelagic Goose Barnacles and/or other barnacles on them. * We picked up small pieces of plastic and pieces of rope. Five water bottles, bottle caps, Bic lighter, balloon scraps, small pieces of styrofoam, candy bar wrappers (from Halloween?)*The dead fish (salmon, tuna, flatfish and eel?) were unusual. *Dead Northern Fulmars weren't a surprise because we had seen them last year and knew it was happening again this year.
Conditions
Temperature: 55 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: S. Tide Level: 5.5 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 5. Number of dogs: 4. Walking or running: 5. Other Activities: 1 running. few people around since it was midday of a work day.
Notable Wildlife
pelagic cormorant flying, 50 sanderling on beach, 1 raven on big cedar drift log, mixed flock approx 300 resting gulls sp?, 20 Hermann's Gulls, 1 Bald Eagle flying South along beach and across to Nehalem Bay
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 21. no leg bands seen, 20 dead Northern Fulmars, 1 dead Common Murre, (1 dead Bald Eagle seen four days earlier) No evidence of how they died.
Dead Fish or Invertebrates
Unusual concentration. 1 dead tuna, 1 dead salmon, 1 dead eel sp?, 1 dead flat fish sp?, 4 tiny dead anchovie sp? unusual to see so many dead fish on beach
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Shells, Small rocks, Styrofoam, Wood pieces. interesting post storm beach combing. Plastic pieces and rope that had been in the water a long time.
Man-made Modifications
a "no vehicles beyond this point" sign at start of Nehalem Bay State Park on beach
Natural Changes
Erosion of vegetated foredune. minor changes in trail through dunes due to recent winds
Actions & Comments
with this report am giving notification of dead Northern Fulmars
hallee
CoastWatcher
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