Mile 185 - S of Stonefield Beach Wayside, Tokatee Kloochman Wayside - December 6, 2012

Report Details

The road into Stonefield is closed for winter and flooded. The only sandy section is in front of the parking lot, the rest of the beach to the headlands is all cobbles. A Red-throated Loon, a new bird for the mile, appeared ill as it was on the cobbles, not in the water as it should have been. Another new bird. the Common Tern, was catching fish then flying off to avoid the gulls. A big flock of Surfbirds was in close on the rocks feeding, then flying in unison when they moved on, lead by the Black Turnstones.

Conditions

Temperature: 45 F. Cloud Cover: Rain. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: S. Tide Level: 2.5 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 3. Number of dogs: 2. Fishing: 1.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 2.

Notable Wildlife

crows, Western Gulls, Ring Billed Gulls, Surf Scoter 5, Harlequin Ducks 5, Surfbirds 50+, Black Turnstones 5, Bald Eagle 1, Song Sparrow 1, Red- throated Flicker 1, Pelagic Cormorants 2, Brandt's Cormorants 3, Common Loon 1, Common Tern 1 (new), Red Throated Loon 1 (new). One Harbor Seal in the water.

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

Sections of the beach had mussel shells probably torn off in the big storms and high tides.

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Shells. The trash was all at the far south end of Stonefield Beach. The rest was clean.

Natural Changes

It looked like the beach was totally covered in the recent high tides. Only one small area of bluff collapsed.

Lfleming

CoastWatcher

All Mile 185 Reports

Date

Showing 8 of 62 reports