Report Details

I did walk my complete mile (as much as can be walked) this time. I paid special attention to the tidepools on the Northern edge of South Cove and around the point. Many people came to enjoy the pleasant weather and the minus tide. I found one ochre sea star with wasting disease and sent an observation to MARINe. I saw markers, so I know my walk around the point was into a routinely monitored area. I found 25 ochre sea stars, the majority healthy seeming. Also found two healthy seeming blood sea stars. I was astounded by how many gumboot chitons I saw. I've found them before in the tide pools on the Northern edge of South Cove, but they were super numerous out toward the point. Most seemed healthy, but a few looked in distress. There is also an abundance of purple sea urchins. They carpet the low intertidal area. Most are well established, drilled down into the rock, but I saw juveniles and others that hadn't drilled out their own home yet. There does seem to be more abundance out at the point compared to the pools in the cove.

Conditions

Temperature: 52 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: N. Tide Level: 0.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 30. Number of dogs: 5. Walking or running: 28. Sitting: 2. Photography: 3. Tidepooling: 28. Fishing: 4. A lot more people than I expected, but, it was a very pleasant day and a minus tide. I met 4 people on the trail down to the beach, not included in my count.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 11.

Notable Wildlife

I saw over 20 gumboot chitons out at the point in the low exposed areas. There are vast carpets of sea urchins. Saw my first red sea urchins. (I didn't even know they came in red until a few weeks ago.)

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

I did find one ochre sea star wasting away. I submitted another Sea Star Observation to MARINe.

Driftline Content

Again, I didn't notice the drift line. D'oh!

Natural Changes

Landslides/major boulder falls.

Report Images

Nice warm weather and a minus tide brought a lot of visitors. I can't blame them!
Erosion continually happens in the cove. This chunk fell down near an area I have seen surfers short cutting before. Cause and effect??
These designate there is a routinely monitored area nearby.
I saw a lot of this kelp which struck me a being young growth, but what do I know?
Though I've heard of it, I've never seen this before. It seems unusual to me because sea stars are generally more symmetrical than this one seems to be heading. Sent photo to MARINe
Saw a lot of this bright orange what I assume is algae. And the ubiquitous sea urchins.
A typical sight at the point. Yards and yards of sea urchin homes, plus plenty of muscles and barnacles above.
A first for me, red sea urchin
Many good sized gumboot chitons, this one was a foot long, at least
This gumboot chiton seems distressed
Finally have a good field guide. Katharina tunicata, known as Black Katy chiton, leather chiton, sea prune and small Chinese slippers
California mussel
Hard to get a good photo, but I saw two of these blood stars deep in a low crevice
The dreaded Sea Star Wasting Disease. Photo sent to MARINe. Thankfully, this is the only sick sea star I found, an ochre sea star.
I'm pretty sure than sick sea star left this arm dangling. Photo sent to MARINe
I don't think I've ever seen these open
This is the first ochre star I've seen that looks to be both purple and orange.
I was not prepared to lug this out of the cove. It is becoming part of the environment.

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All Mile 116 Reports

Showing 8 of 46 reports

Mile 116

Seven Devils cliffs, Cape Arago South Cove

June 23, 2024

A minus tide brought many visitors to South Cove, one group being led by Larry, a Oregon Shores board member.

Elaine Cramer

Mile 116

Seven Devils cliffs, Cape Arago South Cove

May 11, 2024

Two separate study groups were present, one measuring Gumboot Chitons and the surrounding algae and one studying sea urchins, ones living in pits versus ones not. I saw a couple families bringing their small children to South Cove, and a flock of pelicans.

alaingamerica

Mile 116

Seven Devils cliffs, Cape Arago South Cove

March 16, 2024

There was a beach hazard statement issued and I wanted to see what impact that would have as we were experiencing the first fine weather after so many weeks of cold rain. I was charmed by a family of six playing on the beach, the children even playing in the water.

Elaine Cramer

Mile 116

Seven Devils cliffs, Cape Arago South Cove

January 20, 2024

I was the only person fool enough to the visit South Cove today.

Elaine Cramer

Mile 116

Seven Devils cliffs, Cape Arago South Cove

August 6, 2023

A pleasantly mild day made for a good tidepool walk.

alaingamerica

Mile 116

Seven Devils cliffs, Cape Arago South Cove

May 7, 2023

There was one dead California Sea Lion low on the beach.

alaingamerica

Mile 116

Seven Devils cliffs, Cape Arago South Cove

December 3, 2022

I returned to Mile 116 for a Sea Star Observation Survey.

alaingamerica

Mile 116

Seven Devils cliffs, Cape Arago South Cove

November 20, 2022

The weather had very light cloud cover, but I logged it as Sunny.

alaingamerica