Mile 300 Report
Manzanita Beach, Manzanita, Neahkahnie Beach
November 27, 2023
It was a beautiful morning on the last day of the "bonus" king tides in November. The biggest shock was finding a deceased Peregrine Falcon!
Report Details
It was a beautiful morning on the last day of the "bonus" king tides in November. A typical Monday morning - not crowded like it had been over the Thanksgiving weekend. The beach was pretty clean! LOTS of dead jellies, mostly sea nettles and the clear small jellies, gooseberries I believe they are called. The streams / drainage areas were not flowing as much since it has been dry weather. The warm weather had a few folks sitting in the sun, one kite enthusiast was flying a shark shaped kite. Lots of burned wood - some driftwood burned and then many bits of blackened firewood from bonfires. This went along the entire mile about 10-20 feet from the dunes. The biggest shock was finding a deceased Peregrine Falcon! The body was deposited by the recent high tide and there were no signs of injury or blood.
Conditions
Temperature: 50 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: N. Tide Level: 9.8 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 29. Number of dogs: 8. Walking or running: 23. Sitting: 3. Other Activities: 1 kite flyer. Most folks just out walking their dogs or walking themselves. The first weekday after a holiday weekend, so a much quieter beach.
Vehicles
Cars/trucks parking: 2.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 4. 2 COMU (cormorant), 1 juvenile and 1 adult. Parts of what look like a WEGU (western gull). Parts of other birds, wings and some bones. And big shock, a Peregrine Falcon! The falcon looked recently deceased. On the walk back down the beach it was gone, though the tide was going out. It had no evidence of injury - no blood, etc. Oddly I could not tell if the eyes had been eaten out or not.
Driftline Content
Small rocks, Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces, Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Styrofoam. multiple wrack lines with all types of debris.
New Development
recent king tides and heavier rains have carved out trenches where drainage empties onto beach.
Report Images
Schwegmann
CoastWatcher
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