Mile 117 Report
Cape Arago, Drake Point, North Cove
January 12, 2008
Shells, animal casings, small rocks, wood pieces and Styrofoam in driftline.
Report Details
Shells, animal casings, small rocks, wood pieces and Styrofoam in driftline. Most notably, the previously thick driftline composed mainly of seaweed has been washed away.We saw no dead sea birds and only one dead sea lion - an old and rather thin one.On several occasions we saw migrating whales far off shore. Phalaropes, Western Grebe, Harlequin Ducks, Harbor Seals and sea lions in the bay. Moderate human impact (5) observing wildlife at observation point. On 3/6/08 a person allowed his dog to go past the barrier to roam on the beach.
Conditions
Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: 0.0 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 5. Other Activities: 5 at observation point.
Concerns
Vehicles
Notable Wildlife
Phalaropes, Western Grebe, Harlequin Ducks, Whales, seals, sea lions
Stranded Marine Mammals
Total stranded mammals: 1. Dead California Sea Lion in North Cove on 02/09/2008. Notified Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
Driftline Content
Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Shells, Small rocks, Styrofoam, Wood pieces. Most of driftline has washed away
Natural Changes
Slight erosion in path to North Cove
Actions & Comments
Reported a dead California Sea Lion on 2/9/2008 to the Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
All Mile 117 Reports
Mile 117
Cape Arago, Drake Point, North Cove
North Cove of Cape Arago was fairly clean of debris other than boat hull on north end.
Jhorse
Mile 117
Cape Arago, Drake Point, North Cove
Here’s how things went: As we clamber down into the North Cove, a magnificent Osprey rises from the water right under our noses.
Pat&RobertaSmit
Mile 117
Cape Arago, Drake Point, North Cove
The tide was very low indeed (photos 1&2).
Pat&RobertaSmit
Mile 117
Cape Arago, Drake Point, North Cove
Had to observe from the cliff tops owing to very muddy, slippery approaches to the North Cove.
Pat&RobertaSmit
Mile 117
Cape Arago, Drake Point, North Cove
Two dead sea lions in the North Cove (reported to Stranding Network), otherwise nothing unusual.
Pat&RobertaSmit
Mile 117
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