October 17, 2020

Temperature: 55 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Tide Level: 1.6 feet.

Number of people: 10. Walking or running: 7. Photography: 2. Other Activities: 1 person was snorkeling.. This is the first time I have observed someone snorkeling in the cove.

Fire, Litter

Apparent violations: I saw evidence of fire in the driftwood. The burned pieces were scattered. I found more litter than I ever had, but only amounted to a half full grocery sack full. I don't often pick my way through the driftwood like I did today, which could account for my impression of more litter than normal. I am not overly concerned about either issue..

Cars/trucks parking: 2.

Total dead birds: 1.

I found quite a few dead crabs. About a dozen, along the northern part of South Cove. I also found a dead gumboot chiton set up on a large boulder. I suspect it was "loved to death". The last time I visited this beach, I watched a young child pull a gumboot chiton out of the tidepool. I had her return it to the water, but maybe the damage was done then. Or maybe another child had the same impulse, with no one there to advocate for the chiton. Then again, maybe it was place on the rock post mortem after a natural demise.

Seaweeds and seagrass, Wood pieces, Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Styrofoam.

Newly exposed roots/trees falling.

I decided to do more in the high tide zone this visit and I noted some trees had slid down. It was evident this happened earlier in the year.