Mile 20 Report
Saddle Rock, Crook Point
January 13, 2015
One person and two dogs were seen on the beach.
Report Details
One person and two dogs were seen on the beach. We saw over 60 Harbour Seals and 5 whales in the near shore ocean. Black Oystercatchers, Western Gulls and Mew Gulls were heard and seen on and near the beach. Otter, raccoon and deer tracks were seen on the beach. One dead California Sea Lion, a dead Pacific Loon and the brain case of a Cormorant were found on the beach. The south headland has taken a beating from the ocean in the winter’s high wave and storm events with obvious rock and headland slumping. Close to the western headland, there were piles of “terrestrial duff” that was mixed with sand. These piles had been moved on the beach and then eroded again by the high waves. Moss pieces were in much of the driftline along the south beach. Algae, shells, tunicate, bryozoa, eel grass, and feather duster worm casings were also in the driftline. Ocean temperature was 54.8 F.
Conditions
Temperature: 58 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: 2.5 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 1. Number of dogs: 2. Walking or running: 1.
Notable Wildlife
Over 60 Harbor Seals resting on off shore rocks and island and 5 whales south of MacArch Rock. We saw one Black Oystercatcher juvenile north of the point and heard others south of the point. The beach by the western headland to the middle of Mile 20 had quite a bit of drift. In addition to Western Gulls flying over head and on rocks and islands, there were Mew gulls in the middle of the mile foraging at the surf line. Otter, deer and raccoon tracks were observed on the beach. A dead California Sea Lion was also found on the last quarter mile of this beach.The following algae was found in the drift: Lessoniopsis (Strap Kelp), Corallina (Coral Leaf Seaweeds and is a red coralline algae), Cystoseira (Northern Bladder Chain), Saccharina (Sea Cabbage), Pterygophora (Old Growth Kelp), Ahnfeltia (Wiry Forked Seaweed), Prionitis (Bleach Weed), Constantinea (Cup and Saucer Seaweed), Hymenena (Black-lined Red Seaweed), Callophyllis (Beautiful Leaf Seaweed), Odonthalia floccose (Sea Brush), Nereocystis (Bull Kelp), Plocamium cartilagineum (Sea Braid), Mazzaella (Iridescent Seaweed), Mastocarpus papillatus (Turkish Washcloth), and Cryptopleura (Ruffled Red Seaweed). Other items in the drift included the tunicate, Aplidium (Sea Pork); the bryozoan, Flustrellidra spinifera; Phyllospadix (Sea Grass); mussels, (Mytilus californianus); Goose-necked barnacle (Pollicipes polymerus); Gumboat Chiton (Cryptochiton stelleri); Feather duster worm casings, calcarious tubes of Dodecaceria fewkesi (Fringed filament worm); Red glove sponge (Clathria prolifera); and Pododesmus machrochisma (Green False Jingle Shell). There was a bumble bee that was on the rock just south of the north headland trail that was tentatively identified as Bombus sitkensis, and formally reported to the Bumble Bee Watch website.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 2. Pacific Loon foot, one wing and feathers was found at the southern end of the beach. We found a brain case of a dead Cormorant (either a Double Crested or Brant's Cormorant judging by the size).
Stranded Marine Mammals
Total stranded mammals: 1. California Sea Lion carcass at N 42.24390 W 124.40275 and reported to the Marine Mammal Stranding network.
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea), Shells, Small rocks, Styrofoam, Wood pieces. Please see listing under notable wildlife as this section isn't large enough to list everything.
Natural Changes
Erosion of vegetated foredune, Major cracks appearing in bluffs, Newly exposed roots/trees falling, Visible retreat of solid bluff, Landslides/major boulder falls.
Actions & Comments
We are concerned that ice plant patches (one north of the saddle and 4 places on the south headland) are spreading and need to be removed and have reported this to the USFWS and are developing a removal plan. The south headland has taken a beating from the ocean in the winter’s high wave and storm events with obvious rock and headland slumping. Close to the western headland, there were piles of “terrestrial duff” that was mixed with sand. In high rain events in the south coast, forest leaves, moss and other “duff material” are carried by the rivers and drift north in the heavy seas onto the south facing beach there at Crook Point. In some years, these piles get very large. This year, these piles had been moved on the beach and then eroded again by the high waves. Moss pieces were in much of the driftline along the south beach. In addition, sponges, eel grass, jingle shells, mussels and algae were found in the driftline. On the far south part of the beach, a tree that had been upright but on a landslide has now tipped horizontally. We estimated that the edge of the headland below Doyle’s house has been carved back about 10 feet from when the signs for the refuge were placed. These signs are now close to the edge. Ocean temperature was 54.8 F.
Report Images
All Mile 20 Reports
Mile 20
Saddle Rock, Crook Point
One person and two dogs were seen on the beach.
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Mile 20
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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Mile 20
Saddle Rock, Crook Point
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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Mile 20
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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Mile 20
Saddle Rock, Crook Point
Three boats seen drifting very close to offshore rocks.
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Mile 20
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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Mile 20
Saddle Rock, Crook Point
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.
D Bilderback