Report Details

NORTH COVE: Evidence of new erosion in the form of small slides with mud and stones covering some of the driftwood logs on the beach. Minimal driftline with almost no seaweed. More sand over the beach rocks than usual. A few Gulls, a single Heron out fishing on the rocks as usual, and several Cormorants. Fewer Sea Lions than usual on Simpson's Reef. Didn't see any Seals. There was a large Sea Lion in the shallows off the beach towards the north end, sitting with only its head and neck out of the water, almost unmoving for the duration of our visit of over an hour.Two Beagles on leashes. Two small yappy dogs (Chihuahuas?) belonging to two separate groups of people off leash on the beach, one in the vicinity of a juvenile Sea Lion out of the water at the north end of the cove. As far as we could see, neither dog went near enough to disturb the Sea Lion. At the end of January there were still Harlequin Ducks in the cove. One group was noisily defending limited space on a rocky ledge from other Harlequin Ducks. By our February visit the Harlequins had clearly left for their inland waterways. PARKING AREA, CENTER COVE, AND VICINITY:Two fishing boats off the north end of Simpson’s Reef. Twelve cars in the parking area. Quite a few adults and children walked down to the North Cove even though the last section of the path was very muddy and slippery. There was the usual driftwood but no people in the Center Cove.

Conditions

Temperature: 55 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: SW. Tide Level: 0.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 15. Number of dogs: 4. Walking or running: 8. Sitting: 2. Tidepooling: 5.

Concerns

Litter

Apparent violations: Dogs off leash.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 12.

Notable Wildlife

Sea Lions, Gulls, Blue Heron, Cormorants

Driftline Content

Almost no driftline

Natural Changes

Small slides near bottom of cliffs

Report Images

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All Mile 117 Reports

Showing 8 of 17 reports

decorative elemnt for a coastwatch report.

Mile 117

Cape Arago, Drake Point, North Cove

October 19, 2014

North Cove of Cape Arago was fairly clean of debris other than boat hull on north end.

Jhorse

decorative elemnt for a coastwatch report.

Mile 117

Cape Arago, Drake Point, North Cove

December 17, 2011

Not much to report.

Pat&RobertaSmit

Mile 117

Cape Arago, Drake Point, North Cove

August 7, 2011

Here’s how things went: As we clamber down into the North Cove, a magnificent Osprey rises from the water right under our noses.

Pat&RobertaSmit

Mile 117

Cape Arago, Drake Point, North Cove

June 19, 2011

The tide was very low indeed (photos 1&2).

Pat&RobertaSmit

decorative elemnt for a coastwatch report.

Mile 117

Cape Arago, Drake Point, North Cove

March 6, 2011

Not much activity.

Pat&RobertaSmit

decorative elemnt for a coastwatch report.

Mile 117

Cape Arago, Drake Point, North Cove

December 4, 2010

Had to observe from the cliff tops owing to very muddy, slippery approaches to the North Cove.

Pat&RobertaSmit

Mile 117

Cape Arago, Drake Point, North Cove

September 19, 2010

Two dead sea lions in the North Cove (reported to Stranding Network), otherwise nothing unusual.

Pat&RobertaSmit

decorative elemnt for a coastwatch report.

Mile 117

Cape Arago, Drake Point, North Cove

June 20, 2010

The North Cove is closed in the Spring during the Harbor Seal and Elephant Seal pupping season, so we were not able to walk the beach.

Pat&RobertaSmit