Mile 20 Report
Saddle Rock, Crook Point
August 13, 2009
Kelp/algae, small rocks, animal casings, wood pieces and cones, a few shells, Leather Bryozoa, Hydrozoa and Sea Pork in the driftline.
Report Details
Kelp/algae, small rocks, animal casings, wood pieces and cones, a few shells, Leather Bryozoa, Hydrozoa and Sea Pork in the driftline. River Otter tracks on the beach. Steller's and California Sea lions on offshore rocks. Pelagic Cormorants and Hermann's Gulls on the bay. Over 40 Harbor Seals hauled out on rocks or swimming in bay. One dead Common Murre eaten by a raptor. Sand continues to accumulate on south beach and around rocks between south and middle beaches. Two rock bars on each side of stream entering ocean. Wind speed of 16.1 mph. Air and ocean temperatures of 65 and 63 degrees F., respectively. Low human impact (0).
Conditions
Temperature: 65 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Wind Direction: NW.
Notable Wildlife
River Otter tracks on the beach. Steller's and California Sea Lions on offshore rocks. 40 Harbor Seals in bay and hauled out on off-shore rocks. Pelagic Cormorants and Heermann's Gulls flying swimming and flying over bay.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 1. Common Murre had the neck skin pulled up over the head by at raptor.
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Shells, Small rocks, Wood pieces. Leather Bryozoa (Flustrellidra) , Hydrozoa, Aplidium (Sea Pork)
Man-made Modifications
See General Comment.
Actions & Comments
Sand continues to accumulate on south beach. Two rock bars on each side of stream as it enters the ocean. Rocks separating south and middle beaches are sanded in. Algae/kelp in driftline were: Laminaria setchellii (Split Kelp), Laminaria sinclairii (Dense-clumped Kelp), Alaria (Ribbon Kelp), Porphyra (Nori or Laver),Neorhodomela (Black Larch), Cryptopleura (Ruffled Red Seaweed), Pterygophora (Old Growth Kelp), Callophyllis (Beautiful Leaf Seaweed), Mazzaella (Iridescent Seaweed), Hymenena (Black-lined Red Seaweed), Rhodymenia (Pacific Rose Seaweed), Egregia (Feather Boa Kelp), Ahnfeltiopsis (Flat-tipped Forked Seaweed), Prionitis (Bleach Weed), Ulva (Sea Lettuce), Erythrophyllum (Red Sea Leaf), Desmarestia ligulata (Acid Kelp or Broad Acid Weed), Saccharina (Sea Cabbage), Mastocarpus papillatus (Turkish Washcloth), Lessoniopsis (Strap Kelp), Fucus (Rockweed), Postelsia palmaeformis (Sea Palm), Pelvetiopsis limitata (Little Rockweed). Phyllospadix (Sea Grass) also in the driftline.
Report Images
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Saddle Rock, Crook Point
One person and two dogs were seen on the beach.
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Except for one small heavy patch of drift, the driftline was sparse with kelp/algae, Leather Bryozoa and crab carapaces.
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The driftline was absent except for two localized areas with terrestrial-derived leaves, mosses, wood pieces, some shredded blades of Pterygophora(Old Growth Kelp) and a few invertebrates and other algae and kelp.
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Saddle Rock, Crook Point
Peregrine Falcon resting on south end of Saddle Rock.
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Light driftline with 12 different genera of kelp and algae, terrestrial mosses, Leather Bryozoa (Flustrellidra corniculata), the flowering plant, Phyllospadix (Seagrass) and small rocks.
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Three boats seen drifting very close to offshore rocks.
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The south beach lacked driftline and sand has accumulated around the drift logs and over the large rocks at the base of the headland.
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The driftline was light on the southern and northern portions of the beach but heavy on the middle portion of the beach with large amounts of kelp/algae and forest duff.
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