Mile 203

It was a beautiful sunny day.  Few people or dogs.  Few shorebirds, single Western and California Gull.  Did see a "murder" of American crows (23).  Beach is primarily flat.  Very little dune development visable in beach area.  Wrack primarily stones.  No debris collected. There were two beached (dead) Northern Fulmar...read more

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This dispatch provides details, photos, and my follow ups regarding a house fire on the evening of July 2nd that extensively damaged a vacation home near me on Mile 203. The fire was caused by the use and improper disposal of illegal fireworks by the homeowners, vacationing Boise residents. I...read more

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I walked Sandpiper Beach to Buckley Creek this morning looking for Snowy Plovers, but I saw no sign of plovers or even tracks. As I came onto the beach, I saw vultures feeding on something which, as I approached, turned out to be a...read more

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There was not a lot of activity on the beach.  The tides continue to flow all the way to the foredunes.  There is little to no nesting area for Snowy Plovers.  I found the discovery of tadpoles and the Aquatic Pacific Garter Snake interesting in a pool between the foredunes...read more

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Walked Mile 203.  Quiet morning.  Temperature was 45 degrees with minimal wind.  Did see dogs off lease that caused the gulls to be alerted and move.  Saw a couple gulls and my first Whimbrels of the 2022 Season.  One dead bird that crows were playing with.  Roy Lowe assisted in...read more

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Jesse Jones our contact and coordinator for Coast Watch, Jon French, Dawn Pavitt-Ryan and myself met at the Sandpiper Shores Entrance and walked to Buckley Creek to train for a new NOAA Marine Debris Program. We learned how to set up our selected 100 meter survey area near the Buckley...read more

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It was a beautiful sunny day. Not a lot of people walking due to high tide timing. There was very little sand dune build up. The beach was mostly flat. There was one flock of gulls near the outflow of Buckley Creek. The creek has dug a deep trench and a smaller creek before Buckley...read more

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Large number of people on the beach today.   The dunes are growing and the wind has pushed back a lot of the sand areas that were lost in the storms or last winter.read more

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There were a lot of crow tracks, the sand has been shaped into many new dunes. One vulture hanging out near Sandpiper Shores beach entrance. Could hear the Driftwood Project in the distance. A lot of microplastic in wrack.  Wrack mostly small stones.  A few medium logs about.  One Snowy...read more

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Beach is very flat in most areas and not suitable for Snowy Plover nesting.  Snowy Plover signs have been placed at beach access points. Dogs are not being leashed. Poles being placed vertical is not good for nesting birds.  Serve as perches for birds of prey or corvids to hunt from....read more

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Possible Japanese fishing boat washed up on Mile 203 with various species of marine life on board.read more

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The most noticible change was the retreat of the dunes toward the shore.  The beach has become very flat and many of the dunes are gone or deeply cut.  The rack line rests on the remaining dunes and against the vegetated banks.  The debris has also collected against these banks. ...read more

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The change in the beach was the most obvious change.  There is alot more open beach.  Wrack was washed to dune area with some overflow.  Sand was carved out and channels made in dunes.  Most debris was string/rope related.  Minimal crab parts. Saw maybe 2 gulls.  Sad to see graffiti...read more

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The beach was fairly clean on the 26th. Many people were using the beach for recreation. There were lots of Burrowing Sea Cucumbers along the whole mile and a dead seal skeleton on the beach (pictures attached).  read more

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Snowy Plover nest Mile 202 (this was reported to Plover Patrol), Plover on mile 203, Skeleton of Seal Pubread more

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sighting of 4 Snowy Plovers flying and foragingread more

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bonefire and campfire set ups

SAND202001 Snowy Plover Nest Failed

Driftwood Snowy Plover nest still ok.read more

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Shoreline Wildlife - 

We found, we believe, a dead sturgeon on the shore without its head.  We have included a picture with a penny for size reference.

We picked up two 2.5 gallon buckets of ocean debris.  Pictures show bucket and examples of the debrisread more

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I feel guilty being able to walk my miles, 202 and 203, within walking distance from my home, when others aren't able to because of COVID-19 restrictions.  I apologize for so many reports, but when I walk my miles I always find something that I think others might find interesting...read more

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Human activity - 24 people and 7 dogs.  15 people walking, 4 playing in the sand, 2 sitting and 3 surfing.

Shoreline wildlife - 5 dead birds. 4 birds can not be identified due to the condition of the carrcases, the 5th bird can be identified but we do not know...read more

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Today was a bit chilly with the cloud cover but is was a great day on the beach.  The natural change processes of the beach were evident from the last two months.  We do not have any concerns about human activity impacting the beach except for the debris that washes...read more

The beach was unusually clean of debris.read more

Found burned out campfire log, also area littered with cans, etc.read more

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Two significant fireworks hot spots with sporadic other ares. Multiple (about 80) small red rubbery plastic tubes, thin plastic streamers, and firecrackers. People on the beach were walking, looking for agates and some cleaning up after the previous night party. Findings include small amounts of kelp, partial clear jelly fish...read more

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Spring break brings greater numbers of people to play and walk on the beach. During March rafts of California Seal Lions have been spotted and heard in the near waters. One mostly decomposed Sea Lion noted n the beach over this last week. A sea star (Pisaster brevispina) was noted...read more

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Not too much going on, three people walking the beach and one dog. In the tide line was mostly shell bits and a few molted crabs / crustacean remains. Also, some stones. Way higher up was two beams of tsunami debris out of the tide. They were land construction and...read more

Lots of sandpipers have been scouring the sand, I've uploaded some pictures of some unusual sand formations from recent wind, and some streams of water leaving rust colored stains on the sand. This water seems to be seeping up from the ground at the top of the beach or coming...read more

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