Mile 20 Report
Saddle Rock, Crook Point
February 10, 2011
On the south beach, the driftline was light with small rocks and a few pieces of kelp and surfgrass, Phyllospadix.
Report Details
On the south beach, the driftline was light with small rocks and a few pieces of kelp and surfgrass, Phyllospadix. Large boulders and logs were along the base of the headland. Extensive landslides along the headland has brought down trees and clumps of vegetation. The bluff has retreated, exposing large Marah (Wild Cucumber) storage roots. Ridge/runnel forming on south beach. The limpet, Lottia digitalis, was aggregated on the rocks. On the middle beach, the driftline was more defined with small rocks, small pieces of wood, forest duff (mosses, conifer twigs and leaf litter), a few red-rock crab (Cancer productus) carapaces, a northern kelp crab (Pugettia producta), sponges (Neoesperiopsis), Hydrozoa, two species of bushy Bryozoa (Tricellaria and Scrupocellaria), Leather Bryozoa (Flustrellidra) and the kelp/algae, Pterygophora (Old Growth Kelp), Lessoniopsis (Strap Kelp), Mazzaella (Iridescent Seaweed), Prionitis (Bleach Weed), Callophyllis (Beatiful Leaf Seaweed), and Saccharina (sea Cabbage). The north beach had no driftline but did have boulders and logs against the headland. 92 Harbor Seals were hauled out on the offshore rocks. Two Red-tailed Hawks flying over the headlands. Yellow-rumped Warbler in the bush above beach. Otter and deer tracks on the beach. Wind speed of 3.7 mph from the NW. The air and ocean temperatures were both 54 degrees F. One tire on south beach. Three bags of plastic bottles removed from beach. Fish storage box thrown up high on the side of the south headland by waves.
Conditions
Temperature: 54 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Wind Direction: NW.
Notable Wildlife
92 Harbor Seals were hauled out on the offshore rocks. Two Red-tailed Hawks flying over the headlands. Yellow-rumped Warbler in the bush above beach. The limpet, Lottia digitalis, was aggregated on the rocks. Otter and deer tracks on the beach.
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Small rocks, Wood pieces. forest duff, one auto tire, 3 bags of plastic bottles removed from beach
Natural Changes
Newly exposed roots/trees falling, Visible retreat of solid bluff, Landslides/major boulder falls. Ridge/runnel forming on south beach.
Actions & Comments
On the south beach, the driftline was light with small rocks and a few pieces of kelp and surfgrass, Phyllospadix. Large boulders and logs were along the base of the headland. Extensive landslides along the headland has brought down trees amd clumps of vegetation. The bluff has retreated exposing large Marah (Wild Cucumber) storage roots. Ridge/runnel forming on south beach. On the middle beach, the driftline was more defined with small rocks, small pieces of wood, forest duff (mosses, conifer twigs and leaf litter), a few red-rock crab (Cancer productus) carapaces, a northern kelp crab (Pugettia producta), sponges (Neoesperiopsis), Hydrozoa, two species of bushy Bryozoa (Tricellaria and Scrupocellaria), Leather Bryozoa (Flustrellidra), the kelp/algae, Pterygophora (Old Growth Kelp), Lessoniopsis (Strap Kelp), Mazzaella (Iridescent Seaweed), Prionitis (Bleach Weed)and Callophyllis (Beatiful Leaf Seaweed), and Saccharina (sea Cabbage). The north beach had no driftline but did have boulders and logs against the headland.
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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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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