Mile 117 Report
Cape Arago, Drake Point, North Cove
June 19, 2011
The tide was very low indeed (photos 1&2).
Report Details
The tide was very low indeed (photos 1&2). Lots of people on the cliffs, but only two on the beach in the North Cove. Checking for possible injured or dead birds and mammals in the North Cove, we saw, amongst other things, the usual Western Gulls and Pelagic Cormorants, some Mossy Chitons (photo 3), many Turban Snails and small black shore crabs, Green Anemones and many Aggregating Anemones (photo 4) in exposed sandy areas. A Turkey Vulture (photo 5) on the beach was still there on our return to the cliffs. There was a live Northern Elephant Seal on the beach which we may not have seen if it had not periodically flipped sand into the air (photo 6) and a dead sea lion in the rock pools. Other than that, we collected the usual debris - floats, ropes, plastic bottles and caps, Styrofoam, and a variety of small plastic objects (Photo 7).
Conditions
Temperature: 61 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: N. Tide Level: 0.0 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 22. Number of dogs: 2. Walking or running: 22. Dog off leash in cove. With a sea lion on the sand we asked them to put the dog back on the leash, and they did. (ATVs/OHVs ... 2 Motorcycles)
Concerns
Apparent violations: 1 dog off leash in North Cove.
Vehicles
Cars/trucks parking: 11. ATVs/OHVs parking: 2.
Notable Wildlife
Many sea lions, 1 Northern Elephant Seal, 1 Great Blue Heron, many Western Gulls, many Pelagic Cormorants, Aggregating Anemones, Green Anemones, Mossy Chitons, Black Turban Snails, Acorn Barnacles, Limpets, shore crabs (black, about an inch in diameter) ...
Stranded Marine Mammals
Total stranded mammals: 1. Dead sea lion in tide pool. Already reported.
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea), Shells, Small rocks, Styrofoam, Wood pieces. Two truck tires, one with the rim intact.
Report Images
Pat&RobertaSmit
CoastWatcher
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