Mile 121 Report
Gregory Point, Lighthouse Beach, Mussel Reef
September 19, 2008
Lots less trash than previously.
Report Details
Lots less trash than previously. Plastic bottles were prevalent, but I actually saw no Styrofoam. Animal casings, kelp/algae, wood pieces and land-based debris in the driftline. More cormorants on headlands and more than 100 Brown Pelicans flying and resting on rocks in area. Two Puffins were sighted in a group of sea birds floating off shore. Fourteen dead birds, most of them Common Murre, were the most unusual observation. One dead California Sea Lion. Beach well-filled with sand. Cliff continues to erode. Low human impact (2)-walking with one dog.
Conditions
Temperature: 55 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: 3.0 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 2. Number of dogs: 1. Walking or running: 2. Inaccessible beach for motor vehicles
Vehicles
Notable Wildlife
Osprey have definitely moved out. More cormorants moving east on head lands. A few weeks ago a friend and I counted more than 100 brown pelicans flying and resting on the rocks in the area. In a group of sea birds floating off shore I thought I saw two Puffins in the group. Is that possible this time of year?
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 14. Have never seen so many dead birds on this beach. I think most of them were Common Murres, although some were too decomposed to tell. There was one gull.
Stranded Marine Mammals
One dead sea lion
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Wood pieces.
Man-made Modifications
none noted
Natural Changes
Visible retreat of solid bluff. The cliff about 2 yards from what I think is the last house on the beach continues to erode. When are they going to move that house?
Actions & Comments
no. The beach is well-filled in this year with sand.


Report Images
All Mile 121 Reports
Mile 121
Gregory Point, Lighthouse Beach, Mussel Reef
Lots of large wood on beach.
Emily K
Mile 121
Gregory Point, Lighthouse Beach, Mussel Reef
Access to beach improved.
Emily K
Mile 121
Gregory Point, Lighthouse Beach, Mussel Reef
Lots of small pieces of styrofoam at highest/storm tide level on beach.
Emily K
Mile 121
Gregory Point, Lighthouse Beach, Mussel Reef
It appears there is a lot of bluff erosion.
Emily K
Mile 121
Gregory Point, Lighthouse Beach, Mussel Reef
First time surveying this beach.
Anonymous