Mile 117 Report
Cape Arago, Drake Point, North Cove
December 9, 2007
During this quarter, there are usually 1 or 2 people on the North Cover beach and the most we saw was 18.
Report Details
During this quarter, there are usually 1 or 2 people on the North Cover beach and the most we saw was 18. Usually driftline is deep (up to 2 foot in places) and runs along most of the North Cove beach but in December the driftline was much reduced and restricted to the center of the cove. Shells, kelp, animal casings, small rocks, wood pieces, ocean-based debris and styrofoam in drifline. One auto tire and muffler on beach as well as 700 golf balls (estimated by volume). These were removed as they may be a danger to wildlife. Didn't see any whales off Cape Arago this quarter (although saw several further north towards Shore Acres). Birds commonly in cove were Western Gulls, Black Oystercatchers, Phalaropes, Cormorants, and Turkey Vultures. Did see many crows, but not any lately. Also saw a Great Blue Heron several times and, occasionally a Belted Kingfisher, Harlequin Ducks, Canada Geese, and many Brown Pelicans in October. Sea Stars, shrimp, chitons and anemones in tidepools and on rocks. In October, there were 3 dead sea lions (in one case just a bit of the torso) and 2 dead Harbor Seals. Saw no dead birds this quarter.
Conditions
Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Tide Level: 0.0 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 4.
Concerns
Litter
Notable Wildlife
Sea lions,sea stars (not grouped. Approx 1 per 100 square feet), shrimp (some stranded in shallow pools), chitons, anemones (mostly green and aggregating, but one red), Western Gulls, Heron (Great Blue). Fewer birds than usual. Seaweed in driftline much reduced. What was left was in the center part of the North Cove.
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Shells, Small rocks, Styrofoam, Wood pieces. 1 Truck tire, 1 muffler
Natural Changes
Path in tact. Second lot of stairs from the bottom, some erosion
Actions & Comments
Found 700 golf balls (estimated by volume) on the beach. Don't know if they are a danger to wildlife, but removed them anyway.
Report Images
Pat&RobertaSmit
CoastWatcher
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North Cove of Cape Arago was fairly clean of debris other than boat hull on north end.
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Here’s how things went: As we clamber down into the North Cove, a magnificent Osprey rises from the water right under our noses.
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The tide was very low indeed (photos 1&2).
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Had to observe from the cliff tops owing to very muddy, slippery approaches to the North Cove.
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Two dead sea lions in the North Cove (reported to Stranding Network), otherwise nothing unusual.
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Cape Arago, Drake Point, North Cove
The North Cove is closed in the Spring during the Harbor Seal and Elephant Seal pupping season, so we were not able to walk the beach.
Pat&RobertaSmit