Mile 20 Report
Saddle Rock, Crook Point
December 3, 2009
We saw four crab boats to the west of Crook Point today.
Report Details
We saw four crab boats to the west of Crook Point today. A small amount of shells, kelp/algae, Hydrozoa, Bryozoa and tunicates in the driftline. Considerable amounts of wood and logs on beach. High tides and seas reaching and undercutting the headland as well as removing sand and exposing rocks and boulders. Except for an auto tire little human debris on the beach. Plastic fish bin that had been on the beach from summer of 2007 has left the beach. Four Harbor Seals swimming in the bay. Brandt's Cormorant and Brown Pelican flying over ocean. Three Black Oystercathers on offshore rocks. Raven, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black Phoebe and American Pipit on the beach and headland brush. A Red-tailed Hawk flew over headland. Wind speed of 0.2 mph. Air and ocean temperatures of 55 and 52 degrees, respectively. No human impact on beach.
Conditions
Temperature: 55 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: SW.
Notable Wildlife
Four Harbor Seals swimming in the bay. Brandt's Cormorant and Brown Pelican flying over ocean. Three Black Oystercathers on offshore rocks. Raven, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black Phoebes and Pipit on the beach and headland brush. A Red-tailed Hawk flew over headland.
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Wood pieces. Hydrozoa, Bryozoa and spatulate tunicates. 1 auto tire
Natural Changes
Visible retreat of solid bluff. Removal of sand from beach exposing rock and boulders
Actions & Comments
The few kelp/algae were Lessoniopsis (Strap Kelp), Opuntiella(Prickly Pear Seaweed), Pterygophora (Old Growth Kelp), Mazzaella (Iridescent Seaweed), Egregia (Feather Boa Kelp), Rhodymenia (Pacific Rose Seaweed) and Plocamium (Sea Braid).Ocean temperature of 52 degrees. Wind speed of 0.2 mph from SW.Plastic fish bin that had been on the beach from summer of 2007 has left the beach.
Report Images
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Mile 20
Saddle Rock, Crook Point
One person and two dogs were seen on the beach.
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Saddle Rock, Crook Point
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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Saddle Rock, Crook Point
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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Saddle Rock, Crook Point
Three boats seen drifting very close to offshore rocks.
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Saddle Rock, Crook Point
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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