Mile 185 Report
S of Stonefield Beach Wayside, Tokatee Kloochman Wayside
August 23, 2023
When we arrived in the parking lot it was almost full but people seemed to be leaving.
Report Details
When we arrived in the parking lot it was almost full but people seemed to be leaving. The wind had strongly picked up. By the time we left there was only one car in the lot. We have been doing this mile for 20 years and have seen 69 species of birds during that time. It is an amazing mile with tide pools, sandy cliffs with shell middens, lots of rocks for agate hunters and rocks out in the water to make calm areas for birds like Harlequin ducks. There are often harbor seals on the rocks at the far end. The tide line had a lot of large red crab shells. Most people don't get past the first beach as it is still very rocky and hard to walk. The summer sand hasn't moved in yet. They have added a Bucks toilet to the parkig lot.
Conditions
Temperature: 62 F. Wind Velocity: Strong. Wind Direction: N. Tide Level: 0.9 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 17. Number of dogs: 4. Walking or running: 15. Sitting: 1. The parking lot had a lot of people when we arrived but only one when we left. The morning was calmer but the afternoon got very windy. They have added a Bucks toilet to the parking lot.
Vehicles
Notable Wildlife
There were groups of surf scoters out in the water, about 25 birds in each, all along the mile. 1 turkey vulture, 2 cliff swallows, 3 pelicans, 1 great blue heron, 2 guillemots, 3 tree swallows, 1 song sparrow, 14 pelagic cormorants, 12 Brandt's cormorants, crows and gulls. No seals out on the rocks. Maybe too windy.
Dead Fish or Invertebrates
Unusual concentration. Hundreds of large red crab shells in the tide line, the interiors all cleaned out.
Driftline Content
Small rocks, Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces.
All Mile 185 Reports
Mile 185
S of Stonefield Beach Wayside, Tokatee Kloochman Wayside
When we arrived in the parking lot it was almost full but people seemed to be leaving.
Lfleming
Mile 185
S of Stonefield Beach Wayside, Tokatee Kloochman Wayside
It was a lovely day but the sand is gone from all but the first part of the beach so the rest is cobbles, making it hard to walk.
Lfleming
Mile 185
S of Stonefield Beach Wayside, Tokatee Kloochman Wayside
A lovely, mainly sunny day without wind.
Lfleming
Mile 185
S of Stonefield Beach Wayside, Tokatee Kloochman Wayside
The day was very foggy so we didn't expect to see many birds but were very surprised to see 18 species, which has only happened two other times since 2003.
Lfleming
Mile 185
S of Stonefield Beach Wayside, Tokatee Kloochman Wayside
A sunny, very windy day that brought out a lot of people to enjoy the beach, mostly staying in the first sandy area.
Lfleming
Mile 185
S of Stonefield Beach Wayside, Tokatee Kloochman Wayside
It was a beautiful clear day and the wind only started up about 3 in the afternoon.
Lfleming
Mile 185
S of Stonefield Beach Wayside, Tokatee Kloochman Wayside
Florence had some rain but when we got to the mile it was just overcast and kept getting brighter.
Lfleming
Mile 185
S of Stonefield Beach Wayside, Tokatee Kloochman Wayside
A lovely day and the summer sand is still there making it easy to walk.
Lfleming