Mile 109 - Whisky Run, Fivemile Pt, south end Merchants Beach - September 7, 2009

Report Details

Considerable sand build-up over rocks at Fivemile Point. It's now possible to drive around the Point at a +1.0 or lower low tide if you have 4WD and lots of clearance. Other areas of Whisky Run beach are very flat and low, scoured of a lot of their sand. Pieces of jellies and kelp(Postelsia and Nereocystis) in driftline. Two dead sea lions (previously reported). Surfbirds, Semipalmated Plovers, Pelicans, Turkey Vulture and hundreds of gulls on beach. Cormorants on offshore rocks. Thousands of Pale Beach Hoppers on beach north of Fivemile Point.Very light (7) human use on this beautiful Labor Day evening.

Conditions

Temperature: 67 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: 4.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 7.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 4. Cars/trucks on beach, allowed: 6.

Notable Wildlife

Surfbird, Semipalmated Plovers, 3 Pelicans, a Turkey Vulture investigating the sea lion carcass, hundreds of gulls settling in for the night, cormorants on offshore rocks.Many thousands of Pale Beach Hopper north of Fivemile Point, but didn't see any California Beach Hoppers. Pale is smaller than the California, and lacks the bright red antennae.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 1. gull

Stranded Marine Mammals

Total stranded mammals: 2. 1: sea lion just south of Whisky Run, weeks dead, with large log on top of it.2: sea lion skeleton north of Fivemile Point (reported on 7/22/09)

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

Unusual concentration. Unusual number of pieces of jellies of various sizes.

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass. Mostly the typical Postelsia clumps and Nereocystis mounds

Actions & Comments

One guy with a 4WD had stopped at Fivemile Point to engage his Warn hubs so he could drive around the Point. I gently explained that the tide was about to turn, and anyway it was illegal to drive on the beach north of the Point. He very graciously thanked me for giving him that info, and turned around and headed back south. Later I noted that there is no notice or sign anywhere on Whisky Run that explains that Fivemile Point is the northern limit of legal driving on the beach (in this area). In other words, even a concerned citizen who honestly wants to obey the rules, has NO PRACTICAL WAY to find out. This beach needs a big prominent sign on a post right at the Point, similar to the Tahkenitch/Siltcoos areas.