June 15, 2008

Temperature: 60 F. Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: N. Tide Level: 2.0 feet.

Number of people: 12. Number of dogs: 3. Walking or running: 10. Playing in surf: 2. Other Activities: riding bikes-2.

7 Caspian Tern flying north, 3 Whimbrel foraging on Mole Crab, 1-15 Weatern Gulls, and 3 juvenile Ring Billed Gulls, virtually no seaweed, copious amounts of mole crab, 5-6 small dungeness crab about 1/4 mile north of Big Creek, only a couple of Razor Clam shells, one ball of Whelk shell casings.

Heavy numbers of Mole Crab

Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt). There was very little litter. Just north of the mouth of Big Creek and about 200 yards west ( in a returning tide)we observed

Our major item of interest was the chassis of an auto we saw just north of Big Creek and about 200 yards out toward sea ( 2 hours after a 0.3 low tide). The frame was complete with some rust and all 4 tires were still intact. The vehicle look like it may have been a junker, since the tires were in bald condition. Betty pointed out that it could not have had air exposure for long periods since there were not barnacles present. My own guess is that it has actually been there for a long time, covered by sand. Our winter tides probaably uncovered it. The failure of our summer tides to return sand to the beaches is consistent with this idea--it hasn't been recovered again. We reported the siting to State Parks at Beachside State Park and will find out what we can.