Mile 21 Report
Pistol River SP south
October 27, 2019
It was a beautiful sunny, warm windy day.
Report Details
It was a beautiful sunny, warm windy day. I walked south along the beach all the way to the massive rocks at the boundary of the USFWS refuge at Crook Point. The tide was low (-0.4) and the exposed rocks were covered with massive populations of acorn and gooseneck barnacles, bay and surf mussels, and green anemones; sea palms and other algae were scattered amongst the animal life. The highlight for me was seeing that the sea star population has rebounded in this area. In 1/2 hour I counted 87 ochre stars, mostly orange-colored, with a few purple-colored individuals interspersed. In terms of avifauna, I saw 2 pairs of oystercatchers, 3 turkey vultures, multiple western gulls, and a peregrine falcon. Regarding mammals, I saw a harbor sea just beyond the breakers, and tracks of grey foxes along with their excavations were visible above the tide line.
Conditions
Temperature: 60 F. Wind Velocity: Strong. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: -0.4 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 2. Number of dogs: 1. Walking or running: 2.
Driftline Content
Small rocks, Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces.
PaulSherman
CoastWatcher
All Mile 21 Reports
Mile 21
Pistol River SP south
I saw 2 coyotes, 1 grey fox, and 5 brown pelicans, in addition to many western gulls.
PaulSherman
Mile 21
Pistol River SP south
No violations or unusual environmental damage noted.
PaulSherman
Mile 21
Pistol River SP south
All was well on Mile 21 in the early morning of 8 May on a very low tide (-1.
PaulSherman
Mile 21
Pistol River SP south
It was a beautiful sunny, warm windy day.
PaulSherman
Mile 21
Pistol River SP south
The starfish we had seen dead and washed-up near pistol river / ocean coast line had disappeared --probably washed back into sea.
PaulSherman