Mile 20 Report
Saddle Rock, Crook Point
March 9, 2009
New drift logs distributed on rocks below bluff and numerous small rocks on south beach.
Report Details
New drift logs distributed on rocks below bluff and numerous small rocks on south beach. Little driftline. Plastic fish container moved onto south beach. Small sticks of wood, duff, Pterygophora stipes and a few kelp/algae in driftline on middle beach. Three small dead Cryptochiton, a few leather Bryozoa, a tunicate, a live Spot-bellied Rock Crab, a live Pink Sea Star and a sponge within 1/2 mile south of Crook Point. Buttercup, Footsteps-of Spring, Trift, Beach Knotweed, and Strawberry blooming on Crook Point. 27 Harbor Seals on offshore rocks. Three Black Oystercatchers and two Canada Geese on offshore rocks. Wind blowing at 3.5 mph from the NW. Small slumps on bluffs. Air and ocean temperature of 46 and 50.5 degrees F, respectively.
Conditions
Temperature: 46 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NW.
Notable Wildlife
Sand removed, exposing lower intertidal Mazzaella volans(Iridescent Seaweed)and Ahnfeltiopsis gigartinoides(Flat-tipped Forked Seaweed). Mastocarpus papillatus (Turkish Washcloth) and small Ulva (Sea Lettuce) on intertidal rocks. 27 Harbor Seals on off-shore rocks. Young Constantinea (Cup and Saucer Seaweed), Neorhodomela (Black Larch), Saccharina (Sea Cabbage), and Egregia (Feather Boa Kelp) on intertidal rocks. Laminaria sinclairii (Dense-clumped Kelp) forming new blades in the intertidal area. Pink Sea Star (Pisaster brevispinus) found on the low intertidal area. Three Black Oystercatchers and two Canada Geese on offshore rocks.
Driftline Content
Small rocks, Wood pieces. See General Comment
Natural Changes
Visible retreat of solid bluff.
Actions & Comments
Driftline Content: 3 small immature dead Cryptochiton stelleri (Gumboot Chiton), living Spot-bellied Rock Crab (Cancer antennarius), Leather Bryozoa (Flustrellidra, Stalked Tunicate (Styela montereyensis) and a sponge, Neoesperiopsis species in the driftline. New driftlogs distributed on rocks below bluff and numerous small rocks on south beach. Plastic fish container moved to south beach. Small sticks, duff and Pterygophora stipes (Old Growth Kelp)on middle beach. Small amount of kelp/algae:Pterygophora (Old Growth Kelp), Lessoniopsis (Strap Kelp), Callophyllis (Beautiful Leaf Seaweed), Mazzaella (Iridescent Seaweed), Opuntiella (Prickly Pear Seaweed), Desmarestia ligulata (Acid Kelp or Broad Acid Weed), Neoptilota (Red Fan Seaweed) and Surfgrass (Phyllospadix) in driftline. Buttercup (Ranuculus), Footsteps-of-Spring (Sanicula), Trift (Armeria), Beach Knotweed (Polygonum), Strawberry (Fragaria) blooming on Crook Point. Sand removed from North Cove.
Report Images
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Mile 20
Saddle Rock, Crook Point
One person and two dogs were seen on the beach.
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Saddle Rock, Crook Point
Except for one small heavy patch of drift, the driftline was sparse with kelp/algae, Leather Bryozoa and crab carapaces.
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Saddle Rock, Crook Point
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.
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Saddle Rock, Crook Point
Peregrine Falcon resting on south end of Saddle Rock.
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Saddle Rock, Crook Point
Light driftline with 12 different genera of kelp and algae, terrestrial mosses, Leather Bryozoa (Flustrellidra corniculata), the flowering plant, Phyllospadix (Seagrass) and small rocks.
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Saddle Rock, Crook Point
Three boats seen drifting very close to offshore rocks.
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Saddle Rock, Crook Point
The south beach lacked driftline and sand has accumulated around the drift logs and over the large rocks at the base of the headland.
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Saddle Rock, Crook Point
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.
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