Mile 118 Report
Cape Arago, Simpson Reef, Shell Island, Sea Lion Viewpoint
June 10, 2012
Human Activities; 2 people walking their dogs and picking up trash, 2 people fishing, and 2 people watching wildlife.
Report Details
Human Activities; 2 people walking their dogs and picking up trash, 2 people fishing, and 2 people watching wildlife. Shoreline: What little of this mile that is accessable beach is closed until the end of June because of Harbor Seal birthing. Did observe 2 Raccoons feeding in the tidepools. Shell Island had immature and female Northern Elephant Seals going through their annual catastrophic molt. Also pesent,Harbor Seals (some were mothers with pups),Ca. Sea Lions, and Stellar Sea Lions. Flying over the beach was a Bald Eagle being mobbed by 3 gulls. Physical Changes: A small portion of the trail has new wood chips. The restoration areas for the bog lily are so over grown that it is hard to even see the marker posts. Natural Changes: One tree fell over a side trail. Some other wood down from winter storms.
Conditions
Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NW.
Human Activities
Number of people: 6. Number of dogs: 3. Walking or running: 2. Fishing: 2. Other Activities: 2-Watching Wildlife. The people hiking with their dogs were picking up trash.There were 4 sport fishing boats off the coast of this mile.
Vehicles
Cars/trucks parking: 5.
Notable Wildlife
At least 11 female and immature Northern Elephant Seals were on the Shell Island going through their molt. Other mammals present: Harbor Seals,Stellar Sea Lions, and California Sea Lions. Also 2 Raccoons feeding in the tidepools.Saw 3 gulls mobbing a Bald Eagle. Other birds: Pelagic Cormorants,Black Oystercatchers, a Great Blue Heron and a couple of Brown Pelicans. At least 3 gulls were seen on nests.
Driftline Content
Styrofoam, Wood pieces. Not really a drift line.
Actions & Comments
N/A
D Bone
CoastWatcher
All Mile 118 Reports
Mile 118
Cape Arago, Simpson Reef, Shell Island, Sea Lion Viewpoint
Shore Acres State Park is a lovely place, with beautiful vistas and hiking trails, hundreds of marine mammals visible at Simpson Reef Overlook, and a wonderful botanical garden.
GasiorowskiM
Mile 118
Cape Arago, Simpson Reef, Shell Island, Sea Lion Viewpoint
Thirty-seven people were observing wildlife at Simpson Reef.
D Bone
Mile 118
Cape Arago, Simpson Reef, Shell Island, Sea Lion Viewpoint
Wildlife was a major feature of this trip, as usual.
D Bone
Mile 118
Cape Arago, Simpson Reef, Shell Island, Sea Lion Viewpoint
I saw a total of 5 people.
D Bone
Mile 118
Cape Arago, Simpson Reef, Shell Island, Sea Lion Viewpoint
Human Activities; 2 people walking their dogs and picking up trash, 2 people fishing, and 2 people watching wildlife.
D Bone
Mile 118
Cape Arago, Simpson Reef, Shell Island, Sea Lion Viewpoint
The little available beach on this mile is still closed for Harbor Seal birthing.
D Bone
Mile 118
Cape Arago, Simpson Reef, Shell Island, Sea Lion Viewpoint
Not much happening.
D Bone
Mile 118
Cape Arago, Simpson Reef, Shell Island, Sea Lion Viewpoint
A lady sketching seals and sea lions from the Simpson's Reef Viewing Area pointed out an Elephant Seal with two pups.
Pat&RobertaSmit