“In our area we mostly see the juveniles as they haul up on the beach to molt but even that is not a common occurrence,” Boothe said. “The Northern Elephant seal is the second largest seal in the world, coming in second to the Southern Elephant seal.”The seal washed up in Gearhart, on the north Oregon coast, near the 10th street access on Tuesday. Staff from the Marine Mammal Stranding Network hit the scene of the rare stranding the following day. The team was comprised of both aquarium staff and scientists from the network's headquarters in Portland, including Dr. Debbie Duffield and Dalin D'Alessandro from Portland State University. The group performed a necropsy on the seal to determine its cause of death and gather other data.Boothe said during the necropsy organ and tissue samples were taken. The skeleton was also fully recovered in the hopes that it will be cleaned and re-articulated later at PSU. The tissues will be sent to labs for analysis. “No abnormalities were seen while performing the necropsy,” Boothe said. “A closer look at the organs and the analysis of the tissues will hopefully give us a better idea about what happened to this animal.”
More photos of the Gearhart/Seaside area
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Unusual Travel Articles TravelParanormal.com allows you to submit your own creepy tale or debunk one - or see up-to-the-minute news headlines about travel and the paranormal.News Headlines from All Over Oregon Need to scan Oregon headlines? Constantly updated news from all over Oregon: a comprehensive, up-to-the-minute display of news headlines from a variety of media
Tiffany Boothe of Seaside Aquarium took this shot of two of the glowing critters known as dinoflagellates. Summer, spring and the early fall provides a better chance of seeing this eye-popping oddity. It manifests itself as tiny, blue-ish, green sparks beneath your feet when you walk at the tide line at night. It can be extremely faint, so many don’t even notice it – and very few people hit the beach at night anyway.If you’re really lucky, you’ll find pools of sea water that have been standing awhile, and when you stomp your foot in these you see a sudden explosion of these tiny creatures – like a small galaxy was briefly created beneath you.This is caused by tiny, bioluminescent phytoplankton called dinoflagellates, which glow in a manner not too dissimilar from fireflies.You’ll need a completely dark beach to see these, one with no light interference from streetlamps or homes, and no moonlight. It can show up in coastal bays too, like Nehalem Bay around Manzanita, Newport’s Yaquina Bay or Waldport’s Aslea Bay. There, if you dip your hand in the water, it can create an eerie blue wake. If you swim in there, it makes your body look like a skeleton.
Green flash at sunset taken at Cape Meares in 2009.Green Flash at SunsetWatching the sun dropping beyond the horizon in a blaze of fiery colors is a common and mesmerizing attraction along the coast – but there’s an unusual form of this daily occurrence. It’s called the “green flash” at sunset, and it’s a bit more likely to happen during summer’s clearer skies, or especially the inviting “Second summer” during September and early October when the shoreline is at its warmest. It is fairly rare, however. Under the right conditions, you may see a brief green flash directly above the sun, just before the last sliver dips below the horizon. This can only happen on a day of no clouds, and it’s the result of a variety of conditions that block out certain color bands for a split second. A little more frequent - but harder to discern - is a slightly longer, green blob that lingers just above the sunset.The Extremely Rare Singing Sands
Silver Point, just south of Cannon Beach: these sands may sing to you.Singing sands is a very rare find indeed, although it’s been reported in deserts around the world as far back as Marco Polo encountering it in China. Apparently it can happen around the extreme southern end of Cannon Beach, but just a tad more likely to be heard in some parts of the National Dunes Recreation Area south of Florence.
Starry scenes above Manzanita: these overlooks are exceptional for night viewing on the coast.For something rather unusual but guaranteed, wait until August and the yearly meteor showers that hit the Earth. While these are easily spotted anywhere on a clear night, cloudless coastal nights allow especially crystal clear views of this. The big shower is in August, but keep your eyes open on clear nights anytime on the coast and you’ll run a good chance of catching a particularly spectacular show – even if only for a split second. It’s unforgettable.Killer Plants
Darlingtonia Pitcher plants near FlorenceJust north of Florence, and in a few spots on the southern Oregon coast and northern California, you’ll find a plant that eats insects. Around Florence it’s at the Darlingtonia Wayside, where this particular brand of pitcher plant just sits around waiting to coax bugs into its gullet with fancy colors and smells they like. After getting lured there, they soon find themselves confused by clear areas that look like exits, only to get sucked into sticky parts that eventually cause their demise. They are slowly sucked down and melted into plant food. Picnic tables abound here, and this rainforest-like park features a wooden walkway which keeps you elevated and away from the protein-hungry plants. The wayside is free, and you'll find it just off 101, near Mercer Rd.Masses of Purple Sails
In late spring and early summer, there often occurs a mass stranding of little purple jellyfish, which make things a little odd and sometimes smelly. They’re called velella velella, and they’re nicknamed “purple sails.” This form of jellyfish brings out the seagulls to feed on them when they wash up, and they start to smell rather pungently after a while. Once they dry, they lose their purple color and become translucent. “Walking along the beach, you may have noticed slimy, iridescent blue discs,” said Tiffany Boothe, of the Seaside Aquarium. “Purple Sails have clear a ‘sail’ that helps them catch the wind. However, when the wind blows out of the Northwest, these little guys get stranded on the beach. Unlike the more common jellies, the purple sails do not sting. An indie rock band in Seattle even named themselves after these creatures.More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... LATEST OREGON COAST NEWS STORIESBack to Oregon CoastContact Advertise on BeachConnection.net 
The fact is the coast – more often than not – shares the same weather systems as Portland, Salem, Eugene, Medford, etc. Indeed, cloudy conditions or sunny systems often come rolling in from the west, so the beaches will get them first. Granted, this isn't all the time, and there are other varying factors. This translates to if you want to know what the weather is like on the beach, you're often getting a preview if you're in the I-5 corridor.Since the coast is more temperate than the valley, it's much less likely to go outside a 20-degree range. During the winter that's 30's to 50's and summer that's around the 40s to 60's. So keep in mind that summer it's going to be a cooler version of what you see inland, and in winter it's often a little warmer.The coast has its exaggerating factors, however. Windy in the valley will mean extra windy on the coast. The same goes for rain and other storm components. Those wild, weather mood swing days of spring where rain alternates with sun are greatly exaggerated on the coast.Then there are definitely instances where the east winds whipping through the Gorge and Portland don't hit the coast, and the opposite conditions are in place again.
However, by and large, you can often get an idea what you're going to find for coastal weather by looking at conditions inland. It's true whether you're heading to Cannon Beach, Seaside, Pacific City, Lincoln City, Newport, Yachats or Bandon.Second Summer. Indeed, this one is played a bit up more as the facts are coming to the foreground more in recent years. September and early October are typically the warmest times of the year on the coast. Thanks to a variety of weather conditions that have piled up in combination over the summer – and the fact that inland Oregon has cooled off – there are less temperature differences between the coast and the valley areas. Those differences in summer drive things like fog on the coast, but with those gone you get a greater number of warm, blue sky and windless days.Statistics show this, and it's often quite spectacular. These conditions last through mid October – usually. Then more wintry, stormy weather kicks in. But many years find these warm, mild days lasting well into a couple days before Halloween.This is also the time of year when visitor numbers drop off sharply, leaving great deals at lodgings, fairly empty roads and deserted beaches. Word is getting out more and more each year, so these aspects seem to be waning as demand for these beaches under sunny conditions shoots upward.
The “Secret Spring” of February. One very little known pleasantry about the coast is that February can feature up to as many as 14 days of extremely warm, sunny and cloudless skies – like the Second Summer transported to February. These occur in between the more tempestuous days that are typical of this time of year. They're not consecutive: they happen throughout the month, and usually around ten days of this weather. You get a series of conditions and days that are fairly windless, often clear blue skies, and temps in the 50's and even high 60's. Once you get out on the beaches or away from any wind, it can suddenly feel really balmy at times.What's really interesting is that the valley can be freezing and frosty but with sunny skies, and this often translates to nicer weather on the beaches.The reason is because of the coast's temperate climate reacting to the slow warming of this region and longer days. Since the coast doesn't vary nearly as much as parts of inland Oregon, those sunny skies in the valley – even if it's around 30 degrees – can create stunning balmy conditions on the beaches.
Garibaldi
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Sea Gooseberry (Pleurobrachi bachei) shows up fairly often during spring and summer on the beaches. Staff at Seaside Aquarium spotted them last week around Tillamook Bay, and this week they are in massive abundance in and around Yachats. Particularly at Neptune State Park on Thursday, there was a small invasion.This critter belongs to the phylum Ctenophora, which are distinctive by their ‘combs,’ or groups of cilia that they use for swimming.As small as they are, they’re actually the largest animal that swim by means of cilia. Adults can vary in size, from much smaller to around the size seen on the coast.The Sea Gooseberry has sticky branched tentacles which it uses to snag prey, moving them around in an upward spiral motion to catch their food.“They are considered a dominant predator feeding on copepods, larval fish, various types of eggs, and small crustaceans,” said Tiffany Boothe of the Seaside Aquarium.
She added the Sea Gooseberry is able to release up to 1,000 eggs per day. This can result in massive increases in population.If you're looking to find one, it may not be too hard to happen upon one right now. You'll just have to be in the right place at the right time. Seaside Aquarium didn't report seeing any this week in their usual areas of patrol, like Cannon Beach, Warrenton or Seaside. But they were plentiful just south of Yachats this week. They could be lurking on beaches anywhere on the Oregon coast.
Sea Gooseberries near Yachats on Thursday.Photos below are from Seaside Aquarium, showing the Gooseberry in its natural habitat.
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The guides will be on hand all three days - althought the exact times are still to be determined.Thanks to low tides those days, you’ll be getting an eyeful – and an earful - about the life histories of these critters and the variety of life there. Each tide pool is unique and is essentially its own little world. You'll be up close and personal with life forms such as sea anemones, sea stars, sea urchins, feather boa kelp and many more.After the tides come back in, there will be tide pool-related ranger programs, movies, display items and activities for kids will be offered up at the Visitor Center. Programs, films and hikes highlighting the entire Scenic Area will also be available.
The Cape Perpetua Visitor Center is located three miles south of Yachats on Highway 101 and is open daily from 10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. For more information, call the Visitor Center at 541-547-3289; visit them on the web at their site here.The entire area around Yachats in this part of the central Oregon coast is full of tide pool possibilities: even in various places within town, like along the main viewing area near downtown or next to the 804 Trail. Other spots to go looking include the marine gardens around Cook’s Chasm (just south of Cape Perpetua), Strawberry Hill (low tide only), Bob Creek State Park and Neptune State Park.
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The Happy Camp Slide is located between Oceanside and Netarts on Highway 131 just north of Happy Camp Road. Oceanside residents have had to use the Cape Mears Loop Road as a detour during the slide repair work since early July. Lou Torres, a spokesman for ODOT on the north Oregon coast, said there are still a few weeks left for this project. Initial estimates were that the project would end around July 26, but it’s turned out to be much more complex and It is a much more complex project than usual and some surprises awaited ODOT and geologists.“ODOT might take two years to plan and build such a project,” Torres said. “But this was an emergency and we didn't have time to handle this as a normal project.”The slide turned out to be more serious than previously thought, and it required that ODOT work on it now, during the drier season, because of future dangers the slide presented.
It required draining the area of water, excavating several hundred tons of material and more.“What slowed down the contractor for two weeks was the amount of water that kept flowing from the hillside in to the area where they were excavating.” Torres said. “The contractor had to establish a ‘de-watering’ process with the drilling of several wells that helped to capture much of the water. During this period, the slide activity accelerated and we decided to go to 24-7 operations. This has been a complex and challenging project.”Currently, the only way into and out of Oceanside is taking Bayocean Road from Tillamook and then going south on the Three Capes Loop, past Cape Meares Lighthouse. Netarts is still accessed by Highway 131 from Tillamook.
Aerial views of Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, via Aviation Adventures(Seaside, Oregon) – How would you like to take an airplane ride over the famed Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, or see the Columbia River mouth and its many features from over 1,000 feet in the air? Or how would you like to hover over the top of Haystack Rock, Seaside’s cove area or the top of Tillamook Head in a helicopter?
Above the ocean in Seaside HelicoptersAboard Seaside Helicopters, pilot/owner Gary Turel zips you around the shores of Cannon Beach, the peaks of Tillamook Head and above the resort town of Seaside at about 100-plus miles an hour. Various plans take you to various places. They start at $35 per person for the Seaside tour, $69 per person for the Cannon Beach tour to a stunning Sunset tour for $175 per person. Other options include wildlife tours and other combinations. All flights have at least a two-person minimum.
Seaside and the Turnaround from Seaside HelicoptersMost incredible is approaching the tip of Tillamook Head as Gary points out a rocky arch sitting offshore called "Goonies Rock," which was featured in the movie "Goonies." Remember that scene near the end where the kids took a key and matched it to a rock structure with a hole in it? That rock is now named after the movie, visible from Indian Beach. 
Goonie's Rock - from Seaside Helicopters
Above Haystack Rock in Aviation AdventuresOften, Sprague says, people take the northward tour, which takes people up beyond Astoria, to Dismal Nitch, Young’s Bay and then back to the beaches of Seaside, for a quick swing around Terrible Tilly – the legendary lighthouse that sits a mile offshore. Other tours involve extensive, detailed looks at the varied and nearly endless nooks and crannies in the cliffs and beaches of Cannon Beach, Hug Point, Arch Cape, Short Sand Beach, Cape Falcon, Neahkahnie Mountain and Manzanita. You also get extensive glimpses of the shoreline along six-mile long Tillamook Head – which are, of course, never visible to the average tourist.
Hidden sea caves visible around Manzanita, from Aviation Adventures
You’ll witness enormous sea caves you can’t see otherwise, or hidden cliffs and structures lurking around landmarks that are normally familiar to you, things unseen except from this vantage point. Especially remarkable is when Sprague swings around Tillamook Rock Lighthouse several times, and you can glimpse this ancient beauty – now a bird sanctuary and columbarium – from an unusual and unforgettable angle. You actually get a good look at details and features that generations of beachgoers have dreamed about when gazing at that mysterious figure in the distance.
Inn at Cannon Beach. Beautifully wooded natural setting at quiet south end of Cannon Beach. Great during winter storms with a new book by the fireplace – or when the sun is out for family fun and beach strolling. Handsome beach cottage-style architecture. Lush flowering gardens and naturalized courtyard pond. Warm, inviting guest rooms. Continental buffet breakfast. Warm Cookies. Family and Pet Friendly. Welcome gifts. Smoke-free. Complimentary Wireless Connectivity. Wine and book signing events. 800-321-6304 or 503-436-9085. Hemlock At Surfcrest, Cannon Beach, Oregon. http://www.atcannonbeach.com/.
Prepare for Freaky, Creepy Mole Crabs on Oregon Coast Beaches The little critters make the tideline bubble and feel really weird as they run across your feet
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