Mile 328 Report
Sunset Beach, Clatsop Plains
March 16, 2026
Overall, the most striking observation on mile 328 was the large concentration of hydrozoan, Velella velella, that washed up on Oregon beaches early March.
Report Details
Overall, the most striking observation on mile 328 was the large concentration of hydrozoan, Velella velella, that washed up on Oregon beaches early March. Diverse birds were feeding on the Velella, including gulls, crows and ravens. Two bald eagles were seen in the dunes, one adult bird was mantling over a recent kill. Little human presence was observed; a single person was clamming at the low tide line near the water's edge.
Conditions
Temperature: 55 F. Cloud Cover: Rain. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Tide Level: -0.5 feet.
Activities
Types of Activities: Fishing/Clamming/Harvesting.
Number of people: 1.
Other Activities: A lone person was clamming along the water's edge at low tide.. Very quiet evening with little vehicular or human foot traffic..
Vehicles
Cars/trucks on beach, allowed: 1.
Notable Wildlife
Notable wildlife seen on this mile include 2 Bald Eagle (1 adult, 1 sub-adult), 10 American Crow, 50 Sanderlings, 3 Common Raven and a large mixed flock of gulls including American Herring gull, Western gull, Glaucous-winged gull, Short-billed gull and California gull. The gulls were foraging on the large concentration of by-the-wind sailor hydrozoans, Velella velella, washed up recently along the wrack line. Corvids were also seen feeding on the Fin whale carcass (Balaenoptera physalus).
Wrackline Content
Animal casings or molts, Marine debris. Wrack line contents included a high concentration of Velella velella, washed up a while back, along with anthropogenic marine debris (water bottles, single-use plastic).
American crow feeding on Velella vellela hydrozoa.
A collection of gulls at the wrack line.
American Herring gull
Adult bald eagle eating prey.
Sub-adult bald eagle along dunes.
View of beach mile looking east towards the dunes.
Fin whale decomposing on the beach.
Report Images
sultanym
CoastWatcher
All Mile 328 Reports
Mile 328
Sunset Beach, Clatsop Plains
Overall, the most striking observation on mile 328 was the large concentration of hydrozoan, Velella velella, that washed up on Oregon beaches early March.
sultanym
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During a negative evening low tide looking for evidence of tar balls (none found), I observed a sleepy Pacific Harbor Seal pup resting in the swash zone at 8:35 p.
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Sunset Beach, Clatsop Plains
An evening walk at lower tide on mile 328 with sunny skies and moderate wind from the west.
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A beautiful sunny day with a bit of wind.
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Mile 328
Sunset Beach, Clatsop Plains
Hundreds of birds were swarming along the surf line, from pelicans to small shorebirds.
Jann Luesse
Mile 328
Sunset Beach, Clatsop Plains
Another beautiful, sunny, calm day at the beach.
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