Mile 111 Report
Merchants Beach north end
June 27, 2013
A beautiful day at the beach, sunny and calm, and the water was warm (almost).
Report Details
A beautiful day at the beach, sunny and calm, and the water was warm (almost). At least 14 humans were out to enjoy the scene. Truck tire tracks were on the packed sand indicating someone had driven earlier during low tide and possible came up from Whiskey Run access. The beach was relatively clean of debris. One notable piece was a blue plastic barrel about 3 meters high with gooseneck barnacles attached on the inside. There was also kelp covered with gooseneck barnacles which looked quite beautiful. Animal casings, kelp/algae, small rocks, wood and ocean-based debris in the driftline. There was a dead seal pup mostly gone at the north end of the beach, and we were told there was another one further south. A set of Common Murre wings and an intact juvenile murre were the dead bird finds. At first there were no shorebirds but gull started flying in and a group congregated at the south end creek. Song birds in the bushes on the bluff were not visible but very vocal. The sand level continues to rise on the north end of the beach as indicated by a standing tree stump and rock coverage.
Human Activities
Number of people: 14. Number of dogs: 3. A truck had illegally driven on the beach at the earlier low tide, possibly from Whiskey Run which has legai access.
Concerns
Apparent violations: tire tracks on sand.
Notable Wildlife
No shorebirds when we arrived but gulls flew in to the creek area alone, in 2's, 4's and a larger group. Song birds plentiful inside bushes on the bluff.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 2. Common Murres, one with very small wings, one was only wings and bones.
Stranded Marine Mammals
One dead pup being scavenged by vultures at north end of beach. Mostly bones
Dead Fish or Invertebrates
No sign of recent krill die off
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Small rocks, Wood pieces.
Natural Changes
more sand build up at north end
Report Images
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