September 13, 2008

Number of people: 74. Number of dogs: 12. Walking or running: 58. Playing in sand: 9. Sitting: 8. Other Activities: climging 5, kite 2. There were footprints in the sandy bluff faces in more than one place. At one location, three people were sliding down the cliff, causing sand to loosen and fall.

Climbing bluffs/seastacks

12 birds that I think were whimbrels (I didn't approach closely), 25 gulls

Total dead birds: 3. 3 dead birds. One was a large murre, one was a chick, and another an adult (so little remained of the last two that I couldn't positively identify them, but I thought they were also common murres)

Unusual concentration. sea nettles and mole crabs (not molts; I think the birds were feeding on them)

Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea), Shells, Small rocks, Wood pieces. firecracker remains, remains of beach fires, broken glass, feathers

Sand being loosened by people climbing and sliding down bluffs

My daughter, who doesn't live in Newport, comes with me on these walks when she can. She thought she saw some bushes or small trees on the bluffs that had been uprooted since she had been here before. I'm afraid I can't verify that.