Mile 20 Report
Saddle Rock, Crook Point
October 2, 2008
Kelp/algae (see list in General Comment), wood, Eelgrass (Zostera), Sea Grass (Phyllospadix), a few Spot-bellied Crab (Cancer antennarius) carapaces and Leather Bryozoan (Flestrellia spinifera) found in the driftline.
Report Details
Kelp/algae (see list in General Comment), wood, Eelgrass (Zostera), Sea Grass (Phyllospadix), a few Spot-bellied Crab (Cancer antennarius) carapaces and Leather Bryozoan (Flestrellia spinifera) found in the driftline. Live birds included one Spotted Sandpiper, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, and several Heermann's Gulls. Sea Roaches (Ligia pallasi) scurrying around rocky outcrops of Crook Point. Dead birds included 30 Common Murre, 2 Pelagic Cormorants and 1 immature Western Gull. Dead marine mammals included 1 large decomposed California Sea Lion, 1 juvenile Steller's Sea Lion and 2 Harbor Seal skulls, one adult and one pup. Small amount of man-made debris and a crab float with rope. Sand being removed from southern end of mile. Cobble patches remain on the middle beach. Air and ocean temperature of 59 and 49.6 degrees F, respectively. Wind from SW at 9.5 mph. Light rain.
Conditions
Temperature: 59 F. Cloud Cover: Rain. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Wind Direction: SW.
Notable Wildlife
Spotted Sandpiper, Pileated Woodpecker, Heermann's Gulls, California Sea Lion swimming in bay. Sea Roach (Ligia pellasi) scurrying among the headland rocks of Crook Point.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 33. 30 Common Murre, 2 Pelagic Cormorants, and 1 immature Western Gull.
Stranded Marine Mammals
Total stranded mammals: 4. 1 juvenile Steller's Sea Lion, just the trunk portion of the body remaining. 1 large decomposed California Sea Lion, 2 Harbor Seal skulls, one a juvenile and the other an adult.
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Wood pieces. See General Comment
Natural Changes
See General Comment.
Actions & Comments
The four dead marine mammals were reported to Jim Rice, Coordinator of the Marine Mammal Stranding Network and to David Ledig, manager, Crook Point Refuge.Kelp and algae in the driftline included the following: Nereocystis (Bull Kelp), Postelsia palmaeformis (Sea Palm), Hymenena (Black-lined Red Seaweed),Mazzaella (Iridescent Seaweed), Ahnfeltiopsis (Flat-tipped Forked Seaweed), Cryptopleura (Ruffled Red Seaweed), Cystoseira (Northern Bladder Chain), Pterygophora (Old Growth Kelp), Egregia (Feather Boa Kelp), Ptilota (Sea Fern), Plocamium cartilagineum (Sea Braid), Laminaria sinclairii (Dense-clumped Kelp), Saccharina (Sea Cabbage), Lessoniopsis (Strap Kelp), Fucus (Rockweed), Desmarestia ligulata (Acid Kelp or Broad Acid Weed), Alaria (Ribbon Kelp), and Rhodymenia (Pacific Rose Seaweed). Also in the driftline was Leather Bryozoan (Flustrellidra spinifera), one jelly (Aurelia), small amount of man-made debris as well as one crab float with rope at the northern base of the headland rock. Sand has been removed at southern end of mile. Sand has buildup around logs and rocks separating the south beach from the north. Middle beach area still has several cobble patches.
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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