-->
MILE 97 on 10/22/08   -   D BILDERBACK
LOCATIONCoos  •  Bandon SP, between Twomile Cr and Bradley Lake
CONDITIONSWednesday 8:50 AM  •  Sunny  •  58° F  •  Wind: Calm/Light from the NW
HUMANSPeople: 2  •  Dogs: 1
ACTIVITIESWalking/running: 2
CONCERNS
DISTURBANCES
VEHICLES
ACTIV.COMMENTS
NOTABLE WILDLIFEPolyorchis jellies in driftline. Two groups (8&12)of Snowy Plovers. Flock of Sanderlings with a Dunlin.
DEAD BIRDS
STRANDEDTotal: 1  •  1 decopsed carcass of a male California Sea Lion
FISH & INVERTS
DRIFTLINEShells  •  Animal casings  •  Kelp/Algae  •  Small rocks
feathers, broken Sand Dollars
NEW DEVELOPMENT
MODIFICATIONS
NATURAL CHANGES
COMMENTSA few old decaying Bull Kelp (Nereocystis)knots. Clumps of Eelgrass (Zostera), and a few Sea Palm (Postelsia)and Hymenena in the driftline. Beach flat and wind-blown with a slope of 5 degrees. Air and ocean temperatures of 58 and 50.4 degrees F, respectively. Wind speed of 11.1 mph from NW. The California Sea Lion was reported to Jim Rice, Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
SUMMARYA few old decaying Bull Kelp (Nereocystis)knots, clumps of Eelgrass (Zostera), a small number of Sea Palm (Postelsia)and Hymenena, a few shells, a few broken Sand Dollars, small rocks, feathers, and the jelly, Polyorchis in the driftline. 20 Snowy Plover on dry sand. A flock of Sanderlings with a Dunlin. One dead decaying male California Sea Lion that was reported to the Marine Mammal Stranding Network. Beach flat and wind-blown with a slope of 5 degrees. Air and ocean temperatures of 58 and 50.4 degrees F, respectively. Wind speed of 11.1 mph from NW. Low human impact (2) - walking with dog.
OBSERVERD Bilderback EMAIL   •  REPORT PUBLISHED 11/30/08 3:42 PM  •  EDITED 11/30/08 3:46 PM
PHOTOS
1
Dead California Sea Lion
Location:N43.05647 W124.44060 South end of Mile 97
Date:10/22/2008
2
Skull of California Sea Lion
Description:The large bony protrusion above the skull is the sagittal crest. Sexually mature California Sea Lions have this enlarged sagittal crest. This is one way to determine the difference between a Steller's Sea Lion and a California Sea Lion if there are no other parts left of a carcass.
Location:N43.05647 W124.44060 South end of Mile 97
Date:10/22/2008
3
Teeth of a California Sea Lion
Description:The decayed teeth are one sign that this animal probably was an older animal.
Location:N43.05647 W124.44060 South end of Mile 97
Date:10/22/2008
4
California Sea Lion with Cookie Cutter Shark bites
Description:This carcass has round circular scars that probably are from Cookie Cutter Sharks (Isistius species). These sharks have large lips that enable them to attach to a prey. Then the animal spins and uses its deep teeth to cut a cookie-cutter shape of tissue out of the prey. We do not know whether the sharks ate this animal before or after the death of the California Sea Lion. A good website with great pictures of the Cookie Cutter Shark is at http://www.shark-pictures.com/viewpic/cookie-cutter-shark-teeth-structure-625.html .
Location:N43.05647 W124.44060 South end of Mile 97
Date:10/22/2008
 PRINT       BACK TO COASTWATCH HOME