Report Details

Finally the vicious winds and lashing rains abated enough for a long walk. Many piles of bull kelp lined the high-tide line, where small shorebirds (a few Snowy Plover as well as sandpipers and Sanderlings) foraged before racing to and from the incoming tide. Pieces of sea grass were numerous, as were golden shaving brush shaped hydrozoa. Shells and animal casings in the driftline. Three pelicans fished beyond breakers. Low human impact (2)-1 walking and USDA predator control. The winds are starting to build the beach at the southern end of my mile so there is a noticeable pitch. Also, a bay appears to be forming opposite the big, permanent END OF OPEN AREA sign at low tide. I removed a grocery-bag full of ocean-borne litter--plastic bags and bottles mostly, plus half a large fuel container.

Conditions

Temperature: 50 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: -0.1 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 2. Walking or running: 1. Other Activities: USDA predator controller.

Concerns

Litter

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 2. ATVs/OHVs on beach, allowed: 1.

Notable Wildlife

A few Snowy Plovers trolled the wrackline opposite the habitat restoration area. Gulls, sandpipers and Sanderlings mined the water line while 3 pelicans fished beyond the breakers.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 1. All that remained was wings of a bird about the size of a gull.

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Shells, Styrofoam. also pieces of beach grass

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All Mile 97 Reports

Showing 8 of 70 reports

Mile 97

December 8, 2013

A nearly nonexistent driftline with just a few Chrysaora jellies and a few small rocks.

D Bilderback

decorative elemnt for a coastwatch report.

Mile 97

June 9, 2013

A light diftline of a few Postelsia, some Fucus, Ulva, Hymenena and Nereocystis, crab molts, broken Sand Dollars, jellies, the Ctenophore, Pleurobrachia, the Tunicate, Salpa maxima and Phyllospadix, surfgrass.

D Bilderback

Mile 97

March 19, 2013

Sparse driftline of small rocks, a few shells and broken Sand Dollars, one clump of Bull Kelp (Nereocystis) and a few strands of Macrocystis.

D Bilderback

decorative elemnt for a coastwatch report.

Mile 97

November 24, 2012

European beachgrass dominated the driftline.

D Bilderback

decorative elemnt for a coastwatch report.

Mile 97

September 18, 2012

Shells, rocks, crab carapaces, a few kelp/algae, wood, green phytoplankton scum, broken sand dollars in driftline.

D Bilderback

Mile 97

June 17, 2012

Light driftline of many Ctenophores, small rocks, a few shells and crab carapaces, one Sea Star and pieces of the flowering plant, Lasthenia maritima.

D Bilderback

Mile 97

December 30, 2011

Light driftline with fresh water aquatic plants- Myriophyllum (Water Milfoil), terrestrial plant debris-stems, leaves and needles and saltwater plants, Phyllospadix (Surfgrass)and Eelgrass, Zostera.

D Bilderback

Mile 97

September 19, 2011

The beach consisted of a high ridge of accumulated sand with a six degree slope and lagoons in the runnel.

D Bilderback