Report Details

We spent the early morning hours exploring the intertidal area during this low tide. Please see the photos for some of the interesting animals and algae that were found. Sixty-five Harbor Seals on rocks and in the bay. Five Black Oystercatchers on north rock. Flock of Hermann's Gulls with California Gulls and a single Black-bellied Plover on the south beach. Double Crested Cormorant, Brown Pelicans, Caspian Terns, Ring-billed Gulls, Canada Geese and an Osprey flying over the bay. About 50 yards of a heavy drift on the middle beach. Patches of kelp in the driftline of the south beach. Nineteen species of kelp/algae, two dead crabs, Leather Bryozoan (Flustrellidra spinifera)and Surfgrass (Phyllospadix) in the driftline. Sand accretion on the south beach. Twenty-two surf balls on the high beach. Fish box remains on the beach. Air and ocean temperature of 60 and 50.9 degrees F., respectively. Wind speed of 9 mph.from the Northwest.

Conditions

Temperature: 60 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NW.

Human Activities

Large plastic fish box remains on the south beach.

Notable Wildlife

65 Harbor Seals on rocks and in the bay. 5 Black Oystercatchers on North rock. Flock of Hermann's Gulls with California Gulls and a single Black-bellied Plover. Double Crested Cormorant, Brown Pelicans, Caspian Terns, Ring-billed Gulls, Canada Geese and an Osprey flying over the bay.

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

Two dead crabs

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass. Leather Bryozoan, Flustrellidra spinifera, Surfgrass, Phyllospadix

Natural Changes

Sand accretion on the south beach.

Actions & Comments

About 50 yards of a heavy drift on the middle beach. Patches of kelp in the driftline of the south beach.Kelp/algae in the driftline were: Postelsia (Sea Palm), Egregia (Feather Boa Kelp), Pleurophycus (Broad-rib Kelp), Laminaria (Dense-clumped Kelp), Nereocystis (Bull Kelp), Cystoseira (Northern Bladder Chain), Plocamium (Sea Braid), Alaria (Ribbon Kelp), Neoptilota (Red Fan Seaweed), Mazzaella (Iridescent Seaweed), Pterygophora (Old Growth Kelp), Neorhodomela (Black Larch), Fucus (Rockweed), Erythophyllum (Red Sea Leaf),Cryptoplura (Ruffled Seaweed), Callophyllis (Beautiful Leaf Seedweed), Ahnfeltiopsis(Forked Seedweed), Popphyra ( Nori) and Lessoniopsis (Strap Kelp). Twenty-two surf balls on the high beach.

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All Mile 20 Reports

Showing 8 of 35 reports

Mile 20

January 13, 2015

One person and two dogs were seen on the beach.

D Bilderback

decorative elemnt for a coastwatch report.

Mile 20

May 15, 2013

Except for one small heavy patch of drift, the driftline was sparse with kelp/algae, Leather Bryozoa and crab carapaces.

D Bilderback

Mile 20

March 8, 2013

The driftline was absent except for two localized areas with terrestrial-derived leaves, mosses, wood pieces, some shredded blades of Pterygophora(Old Growth Kelp) and a few invertebrates and other algae and kelp.

D Bilderback

Mile 20

December 9, 2012

Peregrine Falcon resting on south end of Saddle Rock.

D Bilderback

Mile 20

May 17, 2012

Light driftline with 12 different genera of kelp and algae, terrestrial mosses, Leather Bryozoa (Flustrellidra corniculata), the flowering plant, Phyllospadix (Seagrass) and small rocks.

D Bilderback

Mile 20

September 7, 2011

Three boats seen drifting very close to offshore rocks.

D Bilderback

Mile 20

July 28, 2011

The south beach lacked driftline and sand has accumulated around the drift logs and over the large rocks at the base of the headland.

D Bilderback

Mile 20

May 17, 2011

The driftline was light on the southern and northern portions of the beach but heavy on the middle portion of the beach with large amounts of kelp/algae and forest duff.

D Bilderback