Mile 300 Report

Manzanita Beach, Manzanita, Neahkahnie Beach

April 20, 2024

A sunny Saturday morning in Manzanita! The upside down tree that is at 45. The strangest thing I found were the two adult common murres - one with a string tied to its wing.

Report Details

A sunny Saturday morning in Manzanita! Earth Day brought out SOLVE volunteers from Portland, with lots of folks walking about picking up trash large and small. There was very little wind and lots lots of sunshine, so folks were out with their dogs and kids, walking, playing, digging in the sand, just lounging - but far away from the masses of Velella Velella that are slowing rotting away at the high tide line, high up on the beach by the dunes. There were surfers and small kids playing in the shallow water. Families with wagons and blankets and picnics. The tide was almost at it's high point but there was plenty of beach. The upside down tree that is at 45.72106° N, 123.94205° W is still there! It's been in its current spot and position since sometime in 2022. It had been cut side up in 2021. The strangest thing I found were the two adult common murres - one with a string tied to its wing.

Conditions

Temperature: 57 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: 6 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 115. Walking or running: 146. Sitting: 29. Surfing: 4. Other Activities: 28 people were volunteering with SOLVE picking up trash! I was so happy to see this! It was a group from Portland, not locals, which I thought was odd. But they got lots of trash, which is awesome.. An absolutely beautiful morning, also it is Earth Day! Hence the beach cleanup with SOLVE. Very glad to see so many people coming out to pick up trash and debris at the coast.

Concerns

Fire

Apparent violations: There is a lot of driftwood being burned. Huge logs. People are not aware that it is highly toxic to burn driftwood, unfortunately..

Notable Wildlife

Nothing too exciting today. Crows and Western Gulls are the only live birds I saw.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 2. Two Common Murres high up on the tide line, amongst the dead Velella Velella. STINKY. One of the birds had a string tied to its wing (see picture). It was very odd. I did not have gloves, otherwise I would have investigated further. I could see that the string was tied around part of the wing, or attached somehow.

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

Unusual concentration. Velella Velella. High up on the tide line.

Driftline Content

Small rocks, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces. Not as much small plastics today! Velella, lots of broken sand dollars, small rocks and bits of wood.

Report Images

Report Images

Michelle Schwegmann

CoastWatcher

All Mile 300 Reports

Date

Showing 8 of 58 reports

Mile 300

Manzanita Beach, Manzanita, Neahkahnie Beach

April 20, 2024

A sunny Saturday morning in Manzanita! The upside down tree that is at 45. The strangest thing I found were the two adult common murres - one with a string tied to its wing.

Michelle Schwegmann

Mile 300

Manzanita Beach, Manzanita, Neahkahnie Beach

March 22, 2024

Mile 300 was full of people enjoying the day.

Michelle Schwegmann

Mile 300

Manzanita Beach, Manzanita, Neahkahnie Beach

February 23, 2024

A beautiful, sunny day in Manzanita!

Michelle Schwegmann

Mile 300

Manzanita Beach, Manzanita, Neahkahnie Beach

January 30, 2024

Most notable is the change in the bluffs.

Michelle Schwegmann

Mile 300

Manzanita Beach, Manzanita, Neahkahnie Beach

January 6, 2024

More than 30 mid-sized, dead birds of what looked like the same species and one sea gull and one crow. Not too much sea plastic - I picked up some of it. Large burnt stumps and logs were rolling around in the high tide. Farther south, the ocean has removed the dune and some of the paths end in a sand cliff now.

Lisa Lucas