Mile 116 Report
Seven Devils cliffs, Cape Arago South Cove
March 28, 2021
I did walk my complete mile (as much as can be walked) this time.
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
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
All Mile 116 Reports
Mile 116
Seven Devils cliffs, Cape Arago South Cove
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
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
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
I was the only person fool enough to the visit South Cove today.
Elaine Cramer
Mile 116
Seven Devils cliffs, Cape Arago South Cove
A pleasantly mild day made for a good tidepool walk.
alaingamerica
Mile 116
Seven Devils cliffs, Cape Arago South Cove
There was one dead California Sea Lion low on the beach.
alaingamerica
Mile 116
Seven Devils cliffs, Cape Arago South Cove
I returned to Mile 116 for a Sea Star Observation Survey.
alaingamerica
Mile 116
Seven Devils cliffs, Cape Arago South Cove
The weather had very light cloud cover, but I logged it as Sunny.
alaingamerica