Mile 34 Report
Wakeman Beach, Geisel Monument Wayside
May 13, 2010
PERIOD COVERED 01/1010 - 05/13/10TRASH: Very little trash up until April/May 2010.
Report Details
PERIOD COVERED 01/1010 - 05/13/10TRASH: Very little trash up until April/May 2010. Very little driftwood this year as opposed to last year (2009). In April, I began to see a lot of the rubber innertube strips used by the crabbers on the beach or rocks. I was hauling off about a pound a day. Then in early May, a lot of plastic bottles appeared. Finally, thefirst week of May a lot of ground up colored plasticappeared for a few days. Maybe from a ship? But, theongoing problem is plastic bottles and the rubber innertube strips. Once in a while, a tire.BIRDS: Very few birds. This year I have been seeing 2-4 BLOY (Black Oystercatchers), whereas prior to 2009, I was seeing many, 8-12 routinely. The vultures appear when dead seals, birds, etc., appear on the beach.SEALS: In late April, early May, lots of baby seals. In late April, maybe 8-10 on the beach. I have not seen this many since 2003. No dead baby seals until last week.1. The first (05/07/10) was very small, 18 inches in length, with a bad bruise mark on the back of the head (right side),probably what did him or her in. The interesting things is that the entire carcass was stripped clean in one day.2. The Second (about 05/11/10), was bigger (about 30 inches long), and the entire lower portion of the seal was badly indented as if someone had bent it in half. This one is still being stripped by the vultures.
Conditions
Temperature: 55 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: 1.0 feet.
Human Activities
TRASH: Very little trash up until April/May 2010.Very little driftwood this year as opposed to lastyear (2009). In April, I began to see a lot of the rubber innertube strips used by the crabbers on the beach or rocks. I was hauling off about a pound a day. Then in earlyMay, a lot of plastic bottles appeared. Finally, the first week of May a lot of ground up colored plastic appeared for a few days. Maybe from a ship? But, the ongoing problem is plastic bottles and the rubber innertube strips. Once in a while, a tire.
Concerns
Litter
Notable Wildlife
BIRDS: Very few birds. This year I have been seeing2-4 BLOY (Black Oyster Catchers), whereas prior to 2009,I was seeing many 8-12 routinely. The vultures appear when dead seals, birds, etc., appear on the beach.SEALS: In late April, early May, lots of baby seals. In late April, maybe 8-10 on the beach. I have not seen this many since 2003. No dead baby seals until last week.1. The first (05/07/10) was very small, 18 inches in length, with a bad open sore on the back of the head (right side), probably what did him or her in. The interesting things is that the entire carcass was stripped clean in one day.2. The Second (about 05/11/10), was bigger (about 30 inches long), and the entire lower portion of the seal was badly indented as if someone had bent it in half. This one is still being stripped by the vultures.
Beached Birds
BIRDS: Very few birds. This year I have been seeing2-4 BLOY (Black Oyster Catchers), whereas prior to 2009,I was seeing many 8-12 routinely. The vultures appear when dead seals, birds, etc., appear on the beach.
Stranded Marine Mammals
Total stranded mammals: 2. SEALS: In late April, early May, lots of baby seals.In late April, maybe 8-10 on the beach. I have not seen this many since 2003. No dead baby seals until last week.1. The first (05/07/10) was very small, 18 inches in length, with a bad open sore on the back of the head (right side), probably what did him or her in. The interesting things is that the entire carcass was stripped clean in one day.2. The Second (about 05/11/10), was bigger (about 30 inches long), and the entire lower portion of the seal was badly indented as if someone had bent it in half. This one is still being stripped by the vultures.
edbear
CoastWatcher
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