July 30, 2021

Temperature: 65 F. Cloud Cover: Foggy. Wind Velocity: Strong. Wind Direction: N.

Number of people: 11. Number of dogs: 1. Walking or running: 6. Playing in surf: 1. Playing in sand: 3. Sitting: 4. Other Activities: throwing balls for their dog. I made the mistake of not checking events at Winchester Bay, B4 going over to walk my mile. This weekend is Dune Fest at Winchester Bay: a horrific, huge gathering of all manner of humans and their dune machines. There were more people, cars, trucks, RVs, buses and dune machines of every variety, than I have ever had to look at in my life. My numbers are probably low, I am guessing at how many hundreds of vehicles were crammed onto the roadsides and parking areas. There were police, sheriff's deputies, EMT wagons, fire trucks and Forest service law enforcement vehicles. I thought about running away, but my mile is at Umpqua Dunes, where the dune machines are not allowed on the beach. The Umpqua Dunes parking lot was full and the dunes were covered with roaring machines, but only a few people were on the beach. The Dune Fest organizers left a few parking spaces for the general public. This is the first time I've ever been able to hear dune machinery in the background, the entire time I walked on the beach. It's so ironic that there are roped off snowy plover nesting areas along Umpqua Dunes beach, with Dune Fest noise pollution on the other side of the dunes.

Litter

Disturbances: Shorebirds moving in response to humans/dogs

One snowy plover, very few sandpipers, many seagulls, a lovely flock of pelicans, standing on the sand.

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), Styrofoam, Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.). broken glass and glass shards