Mile 179 Report

April 13, 2008
by oystercatcher

Location:
Lane
Heceta Head Lighthouse, Devils Elbow SP, Cape Creek
Conditions:
Sunday 12:35 AM
Party cloudy
54° F
Wind:
Moderate from the NW
Tide Level:
-0.1 ft
Humans / Pets:
People:
34
Dogs:
5
Activities:
Walking / Running:
23
Playing in sand:
2
Sitting:
3
Rockhunting:
1
Tidepooling:
7
collecting plastic garbage 1
Concerns:
Disturbances:
Vehicles:
Cars/Trucks parking:
33
Activity Comments:
It was a lovely day and while I was there for 3 hours many cars came and went at least doubling the number of cars I initially counted.
Notable Wildlife:
Sea gulls at mouth of river. Noticed lots of juvenile mussels on the rocks to the north. There were also some mature mussels and barnacles. On the low lying rocks there were obvious patches where barnacles were missing possibly from foot traffic.There was an orange/brown seaweed/algae(?) on the rocks closest to the surf. From the light house there were large rafts of surf scoters and common murres. With the help of the spotting scope and lighthouse volunteer identified 7 Brants Cormorants.
Dead Birds:
Stranded:
Fish & Invertebrates:
Driftline:
Small rocks·Wood pieces
New Development:
Modifications:
Natural Changes:
Comments:
Summary:
It was a pleasant day for beach goers, alternating sun and overcast with moderate wind. Lots of cars coming and going from the parking lot. People tide pooling, climbing on the rocks, beachcombing, photographing, dogs running free. There was a sand castle and some writing on the rocks with colored chalk. A small amount of erosion at the shell mound. Noticed lots of juvenile mussels as well as large mussels and barnacles at the north end of the beach. There were rafts of surf scoters and common murres which could be seen from the lighthouse as well as a few Brandt's cormorants.
  • View of Heceta Head, the lighthouse, lighthouse keepers residence (bed and breakfast), beach and Devils Elbow.
    View of Heceta Head, the lighthouse, lighthouse keepers residence (bed and breakfast), beach and Devils Elbow.
    Taken from main lookout south on highway 101
    April 13, 2008
  • Juvenile mussels with noticeable patches of missing barnacles.
    Juvenile mussels with noticeable patches of missing barnacles.
    North end of beach near caves.
    April 13, 2008
  • Rocks at low tide with seaweed or algae growth.
    Rocks at low tide with seaweed or algae growth.
    North end of beach near caves.
    April 13, 2008
  • sea stars and anemones
    sea stars and anemones
    on rocks at low tide at north end of beach near caves
    April 13, 2008
  • beach at low tide near water line looking north to caves which are below the bluff
    beach at low tide near water line looking north to caves which are below the bluff
    looking north from river outflow at low tide
    April 13, 2008
Other Mile 179 Reports (6)

2009

June 29, 2009 - oystercatcher
It was a beautiful clear morning. The tide was the lowest I have observed with exposed sand almost out the rocks where the nesting birds were. The Elder Hostel tour was busy photographing...
read more
  • Low tide looking out to the rocks off Heceta Head.
  • Gulls, cormorants and murres on the rocks.
  • A pair of oyster catchers were observed off the point on the right side of the photo.
  • View of the sand to the rocks from Cape Creek
April 10, 2009 - FriendofStrawberry
Immature Gray Whale reported dead on Carl G. Washburne State Park beach just north of Heceta Head Lighthouse Thursday night. Scientists took samples at that time. When we were there Friday morning...
read more
March 9, 2009 - oystercatcher
The 40 foot long juvenile male fin whale which was washed up on Sunday the 8th was being buried in an 11 foot deep trench by a local Florence excavating company. Emanating from the carcass was an...
read more
  • Dead Fin Whale on Heceta Lighthouse beach
  • Closer look at dead Fin Whale from Cape Creek Bridge
  • Showing whale's blood left after it was moved to the burial site located further to the south end of beach below parking lot.
  • Park ranger throwing lime on the fin whale while it is being buried.
  • Covering the fin whale body with sand
  • Observers of the whale burial.
March 8, 2009 - FriendofStrawberry
Juvenile, 40-foot-long male Fin Whale washed up on beach at Heceta Head.A deep water juvenile male Fin Whale washed up on the beach at Heceta Head Lighthouse. On Friday it was seen at the mouth of...
read more
  • Open mouth - Top baleen visible and tongue on lower jaw.
  • Open mouth. Visible where mammal research samples were taken earlier in the day.

2008

August 28, 2008 - oystercatcher
It was a sunny calm morning with no one in the parking lot when I arrived. A fog bank sat just off shore beyond the breakers. The beach sand appears to have started moving off shore revealing loads...
read more
  • fog bank off shore on a sunny calm day
  • Cobbles being revealed as the sand has started washing out to sea.
  • Pelican resting with seagulls on Heceta Head rocks.
  • Footprints in the early morning sand may be those of a coyote making an early morning visit to the beach.
  • Postelsia
  • unidentified dead bird showing head and beak
  • unidentified dead bird foot
August 3, 2008 - oystercatcher
It was a beautiful calm morning with only one car from Montana with a couple photographing tide pools which they had never seen before. Most of the rocky beach found in spring was now covered with...
read more
  • green anemone in tide pool
  • large rocks at North end of beach at low tide
  • snails on rock
  • Cormorants and Gulls on rocks off Heceta Head