August 3, 2022

Report Details

Another beautiful day and a very clean beach -- impressive given the full campground at the height of summer. I counted 27 adults, 4 children, and 4 dogs, all leashed except one. I observed 2 people riding bicycles, 2 using metal detectors, and one person coming down the stairs with a surfboard. I saw 2 or 3 gulls, a sandpiper, and 3 vultures biding their time near the stranded seal.  Small stones were scattered most of the way S on the mile. There were two substantial chunks of newly fallen bluff, but my photos of them were in too much shadow.Close to the bluff a sign had been placed by the Marine Mammal Stranding Network calling attention to the stranded seal. It was far enough away from where the seal lay that as I was walking S near the bluff, scanning the beach, I didn't spot any seal, and I guessed the sign was no longer relevant. Walking back N closer to the water, I came across the seal and noticed it had left a track starting near the sign and leading oceanward to its current position maybe 35 or 40 yards away (a very rough estimate). See photos. I called the MMSN to report the less than optimum placement of the sign, and they texted back that a staff member had placed the sign near the seal the night before. I sent them a couple of photos showing the seal's path and current position. I also spoke with a couple who were walking in the seal's direction with their dog to warn them off, but they were aware of the situation, had seen the seal from their campsite the night before. They said other campers had also seen it and expressed concern.Three deep holes had been dug in the sand in three different places -- deep enough to pose a danger of collapse, but the diggers were nowhere to be seen. See photo.The concrete base of a long-gone set of wooden stairs down to the beach, which has been sitting there unchanged for 10 years, has undergone a sudden transformation since my last visit, in May. It looks as if someone has taken a pickaxe to it -- much of its surface has crumbled. Big mystery to me. See "before" and "after" photos.