Report Details

The fog and north wind of the past few days eased this morning, and although there was no sun to speak of, plenty of people and their dogs were out enjoying the beach.This year's Western Snowy Plover breeding season seems to have concluded, with 48 nests located and monitored on the sand beaches of Lincoln County, 33 of them between Alsea Spit and Seal Rock. This compares to 21 nests located in Lincoln County last year. Unfortunately, only one of this year's nests is known to have hatched a chick, which apparently didn't survive. It's difficult to identify the cause of a nest failure, but predation (probably mostly by crows), tidal over wash, and windblown sand seem to have been major factors. Snowy Plovers winter here on Mile 202, and I encountered 8-10 today in the area where they congregate, perhaps gathering now that the breeding season is effectively over.

Conditions

Temperature: 55 F. Cloud Cover: Foggy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: N. Tide Level: 3.5 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 50. Number of dogs: 10. Walking or running: 45. Playing in surf: 3. Playing in sand: 2.

Concerns

Fire

Apparent violations: Bonfire remains near dunes.

Notable Wildlife

30-50 Brown Pelicans flying over surf and sitting on sand bar; 5 eagles soaring together high overhead, headed east over Alsea Bay; 8-10 Western Snowy Plovers (see summary)

Driftline Content

Small rocks, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt). Quite a bit of sand crab remains in driftline. Beach was pretty clean of debris.

Natural Changes

Encroachment of European Beach Grass onto what was smooth sand beach.

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All Mile 202 Reports

Showing 8 of 60 reports

Mile 202

March 7, 2024

Mile 202 beach accesses and exits are now restricted because of erosion and sheering off of the sand cliffs along its northern portion, so I now need to plan for a receding tide if I want to walk the entire mile safely.

Jon French

Mile 202

January 28, 2024

After finding forty beached Cassin's Auklets on Jan.

Jon French

Mile 202

October 30, 2023

A beautifully calm, sunny day, maybe the last for awhile, with a fifteen mile view from Seal Rock to Cape Perpetua and hardly anyone on the beach except for two surf fishers and a couple valiantly trying to launch a kite with no wind.

Jon French

Mile 202

August 30, 2023

As I began yesterday's mile walk and monthly COASST beached bird survey, a light rain began to fall, the first in months.

Jon French

Mile 202

July 23, 2023

As I have done before, I combined today's walk with my monthly COASST survey for dead seabirds.

Jon French

Mile 202

May 16, 2023

The beach was fairly cool today after 99 degrees two days ago.

Jon French

Mile 202

March 14, 2023

This was my second monthly beached bird survey for COASST (Coastal Observation And Seabird Survey Team) which I combined with my mile walk.

Jon French

Mile 202

February 23, 2023

A dead certacean was reported to the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network to be on the beach in Bayshore Oregon by Beach Entrance 67d.

JLcoasties