February 13, 2018

Once again, I forgot that I had created this blog for my quarterly CoastWatch mile. Here is a short version in my Ramblings blog:

http://lindafink.blogspot.com/2018/02/anniversary-on-coast.html

I am now putting more photos on the CoastWatch site so here is that address as well with my mile report:

https://oregonshores.org/mile-262-cape-kiwanda-state-park-february-13-2018

 

October 16, 2017

I had forgotten that I started a blog just for my CoastWatch miles. Instead, I've been writing about them on my Ramblings blog. So here is a link to the post about the Oct. 16, 2017, survey. http://lindafink.blogspot.com/2017/10/coast-watch.html

July 5, 2017

It was disappointing to see all the used and unused fireworks on the beach the day after the 4th of July, since fireworks on Oregon beaches and in Oregon State Parks are not allowed, as the sign at McPhillips Beach, the access point to the beach at Cape Kiwanda State Park, clearly states.

This is the entrance to Mile 262 that we monitor for Coast Watch. It starts a bit south of the access road and continues to a point atop Cape Kiwanda but we generally only hike to the dune because of the signs warning against clambering up the unstable cliff.

I took just a few photos of the many, many leftover fireworks. We hauled out four bags of trash, fireworks, even clothes.

It was a foggy day but we could see a bird picking at something on the beach. With the long lens of my camera, I could see it was a Peregrine Falcon, plucking a newly caught gull.

There were lots of other, very alive and healthy gulls nearby.

A fisherman was fishing in the fog in the surf...

The sign indicating where motor vehicles are permitted was easily visible this time.

However, so were the vehicle tracks beyond it.

The cliff at the south end of the beach was more eroded than ever.

 Partway up the cliff (just above the center of first photo below), a hatch year Peregrine Falcon was looking north toward where we had seen the gull-plucking adult falcon. Perhaps the youngster was hoping the adult would bring food. We did not stay to find out.

As usual, I took a photo at the base of the dune and cliff looking north but this day, not much of the mile could be seen and none of Cape Lookout beyond.

Here is the link to my Coast Watch report:
https://oregonshores.org/mile-262-cape-kiwanda-state-park-july-5-2017

May 6, 2017

I forgot to post about this quarter's mile walk. Here is my report on the Coast Watch web site...

https://oregonshores.org/mile-262-cape-kiwanda-state-park-may-6-2017

And here are my photos from that day...

Lots of vehicle tracks from north end to south end.

 One long dead sea mammal...

 A flock of Western Sandpipers...

Thousands of Velella velella...

Two hang gliders...

Lots of uncovered sea floor rocks...

View of mile 262 from base of dune looking north toward Cape Lookout  

 Inlet at top of Cape on north side...

A beautiful day

March 10, 2017 Mile 262

A lovely, warm (60), windless, rainless day on the coast. Beach was relatively clean... I took out one bag of trash... could have taken more but only had one bag. Dune continues to erode and all "No Vehicles Behind this Sign"  signs are either buried or face down in the sand. However, there were no tire tracks beyond where vehicles are allowed to go, although there were several cars roaming up and down the beach. The biggest activity today seemed to be dog walking. There were 9 people on the beach with 5 dogs.  One young man was walking along the beach practicing swinging his num chuks. I did not take his photo.

The cliff at the South end of the beach continues to erode.

A trio of Surf Scoters were fishing in the surf close to these rocks.

Some people are still ignoring this warning sign at the foot of the cliff...

 But most seem to be skirting left and climbing at a safer spot...

 Some signs are still being ignored by a few people, apparently...

One dead and partly scavenged harbor seal was on the beach... (two ravens were working on it while I was there)

Much cuter were two tame rabbits along the McPhillips Park access road. The black one came right up to my feet begging. They looked in good shape. Johnny says he has seen them several times when he has walked back while I went over the dune looking for Black Oystercatchers. He stayed on the farm working yesterday.

It was nice to have a break in the rain... and spend it walking on the beach.

December 13, 2016 Mile 262

We finally made it back to Mile 262 a few hours after the King Tide of 10 feet. Lots of junk either washed up on the beach or, more likely, left there by people. We hauled off lots but could not begin to get it all. I reported the mess on the Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area, Oregon State Parks & Recreation website.

The area was virtually deserted when we arrived. Quite a contrast to summer time. One car with people and a dog arrived before Johnny walked back. I went over the dune to look for Black Oystercatchers so did not even see that car. But there were lots of human and dog footprints and lots of car tracks.

Looking north from McPhillips Park

Looking south from McPhillips Park (notice car tracks)

lots of kelp on the beach

first time I've seen these signs

a fairly new eroded area and landslide

a refrigerator casing

the green stuff is a natural seaweed but so tangled together that it has all sorts of plastic debris trapped inside

One of two dead birds we saw. This one is a white-winged Scoter. The other was a Western Grebe

This is a dead and partly eaten marine mammal of some sort... seal or sea lion

The dune keeps moving, making signage difficult.

I had not noticed this cavity at the north end of the dune before

It is an eroded hole at the edge of the dune. Will be interesting to see what it looks like next time.

The sea stack is becoming more and more eroded by waves

looking southwest to the end of mile 262

The cliff is becoming steeper and steeper

This sign is at the base of the cliff pictured above

You can tell by the tracks leading past the sign that it is being ignored

Here is the sign and cliff from another angle

Looking north toward Cape Lookout from the dune

The resident Peregrine called and flew from his usual area and two Black Oystercatchers were visible. No rain or wind while we were there and mid 40s... a pleasant December day on the coast.