Mile 116 - Seven Devils cliffs, Cape Arago South Cove - March 20, 2021

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I didn't do a complete survey today. But wanted to say more than I could in a dispatch. I was at the Southern tidepools 3 days ago for Sea Star Observation Survey Training and we found 24 stars, one Mottled Star and one Ochre Star that seemed to have a lesion. I returned today to see if I could find any in a worse condition. I did not. Rain and hunger chased me away before I walked the whole mile. I spent an hour and a half in the tidepools and though the water level was higher, I went further than on Wednesday. Out of 29 Ochre Stars observed, none had lesions and only one looked suspicious to me. I saw some interesting things and have learned how much gets overlooked if you don't slow down.

Conditions

Temperature: 49 F. Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Tide Level: 1.4 feet.

Activities

Number of people: 7. Number of dogs: 2. Walking or running: 7. Playing in surf: 1. Tidepooling: 4.

Other Activities: All people and dogs were well behaved.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 5.

Notable Wildlife

6 Harlequin Ducks, 4 male and 2 female. An anemone was eating something bright orange, I don't know what. Also observed another bright orange creature and took some stills from video for this report.

Wrackline Content

Did not take note of the wrack line today

New Development

Only an individual strung up some found rope to assist access across a steep slippery slope

Actions & Comments

At the bottom of the access trail there is are Park made stairs off to the right and an unofficial trail continuing straight. This is sometimes a better approach in muddy situations, although it's at the bottom of an old slide and certainly not sanctioned by Parks. Someone has strung up found rope, others have constructed rude stairs from rocks and logs.

Report Images

Two male and one female Harlequin Ducks

Didn't know what this was at first. The bright color caught my eye. I may have figured out its a Northern Kelp crab.

I didn't know what this was either. At first, I didn't even notice the anemone.

I didn't have my camera ready at first. When gently, briefly touch, either it or the anemone began to contract.

Most of the 29 Ochre Stars were healthy seeming to me, like this star among sea urchins

I've never noticed Sea Urchins on this side of the cove before but I've learned much gets overlooked if you don't slow down and really look.

This was the least healthy looking star I saw this day. I am inquiring if it seems unhealthy to MARINe

This detail image was taken at the Sea Star Observation Survey Training on Wednesday. The jury is still out for whether this could be Sea Star Waisting Disease

Photo taken by Jesse Jones during the Sea Star Observation Survey Training, Evasterias Troschelii

Photo by Bruce Craig, male and female Harlequin Ducks

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alaingamerica

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