Report Details

A quiet, cloudy mid-morning walk on Del Rey Beach, mile 327 with people clamming, walking, and sitting on the beach. Little wind and mild day. Observed a dead California sea lion on the beach near the Highlands road beach entrance attracting some attention from curious beach-goers. Saw California market squid eggs, some kelp, and rocks at the low tide line. Plastic debris and fire pits past the high tide line and into the dunes. Contacted Dr. Debbie Duffield at PSU and Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network about the dead California sea lion.

Conditions

Temperature: 58 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: N. Tide Level: 5.7 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 10. Number of dogs: 2. Walking or running: 6. Playing in surf: 1. Playing in sand: 2. Sitting: 1. Other Activities: Two people were using clam guns to search for clams along the low tide line.. A quiet, cloudy day on Del Rey Beach. Some cars were driving along the wet sand, with one pick-up truck and a dog off-leash running behind the truck. A few people with clam guns, sitting on the beach near their cars, or walking along the beach.

Concerns

Litter

Apparent violations: Litter observed on the high tide line (plastic bags, bottles). Sturgeon fish heads and tails on the low tide line being scavenged by gulls..

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 10. Cars/trucks on beach, allowed: 10.

Notable Wildlife

Observed brown pelicans, western and California gulls, 1 Heerman's gull (photographed), Caspian terns, and double-crested cormorant.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 1. Pelagic cormorant

Stranded Marine Mammals

Total stranded mammals: 1. Observed one dead California sea lion (photographed) 200 yards from the Highlands Rd. Del Rey Beach entrance.

Driftline Content

Small rocks, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt). Low tide line had scattered crab shells, small rocks, and other mollusk shells. Little plastic debris at the low tide line visible. Also observed California market squid egg case and some kelp.

Actions & Comments

No apparent issues, erosion, or significant natural changes. 

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All Mile 327 Reports

Showing 8 of 24 reports

Mile 327

Clatsop Plains

March 29, 2023

A morning walk on mile 327 revealed 3 species of kelp: chain bladder kelp, bull kelp, and rockweed, and some interesting invertebrates: purple mahogany clam (Nuttallia) and pelagic gooseneck barnacles attached to a plastic soap pump bottle.

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Mile 327

Clatsop Plains

December 28, 2022

A late afternoon walk on mile 327 revealed three species of kelp washed up on the wrack line: bull kelp, sea palm, and giant kelp, and three species of dead avifauna: Common murre, Northern fulmar, and rhinocerus auklet.

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Mile 327

Clatsop Plains

July 5, 2022

A morning walk on mile 327 on July 5th revealed a significant amount of human trash from the fourth of July festivities on the beach, including hundreds of fireworks, abundant single-use plastics, and many food containers/food waste.

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Mile 327

Clatsop Plains

June 29, 2022

A cloudy yet mild afternoon walk on mile 327 revealed an interesting diversity of arthropod species in the wrack line: Say's Stink Bug, Large Yellow Underwing, 61 Serrated Darkling Beetles, and ladybird beetles (Coccinella and Hippodamia).

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Mile 327

Clatsop Plains

June 17, 2021

A quiet, cloudy morning walk on the southern end of mile 327 reveals considerable trash from human activities around fire pits on the dry sand area above the high tide line.

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Mile 327

Clatsop Plains

January 13, 2021

Today was a welcome respite from the recent heavy rain, high winds, and stormy weather that accompanied the King tides of Jan.

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Mile 327

Clatsop Plains

October 28, 2020

Mid-morning walk south towards Gearhart beach at a very high tide along the tide line I saw a dead Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) carcass with bands on its legs.

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Mile 327

Clatsop Plains

October 20, 2020

Walked south of the Del Rey beach entrance 0.

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