Mile 20 Report
Saddle Rock, Crook Point
July 13, 2010
We spent the early morning hours exploring the intertidal area during this low tide.
Report Details
We spent the early morning hours exploring the intertidal area during this low tide. Please see the photos for some of the interesting animals and algae that were found. Sixty-five Harbor Seals on rocks and in the bay. Five Black Oystercatchers on north rock. Flock of Hermann's Gulls with California Gulls and a single Black-bellied Plover on the south beach. Double Crested Cormorant, Brown Pelicans, Caspian Terns, Ring-billed Gulls, Canada Geese and an Osprey flying over the bay. About 50 yards of a heavy drift on the middle beach. Patches of kelp in the driftline of the south beach. Nineteen species of kelp/algae, two dead crabs, Leather Bryozoan (Flustrellidra spinifera)and Surfgrass (Phyllospadix) in the driftline. Sand accretion on the south beach. Twenty-two surf balls on the high beach. Fish box remains on the beach. Air and ocean temperature of 60 and 50.9 degrees F., respectively. Wind speed of 9 mph.from the Northwest.
Conditions
Temperature: 60 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: NW.
Human Activities
Large plastic fish box remains on the south beach.
Notable Wildlife
65 Harbor Seals on rocks and in the bay. 5 Black Oystercatchers on North rock. Flock of Hermann's Gulls with California Gulls and a single Black-bellied Plover. Double Crested Cormorant, Brown Pelicans, Caspian Terns, Ring-billed Gulls, Canada Geese and an Osprey flying over the bay.
Dead Fish or Invertebrates
Two dead crabs
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass. Leather Bryozoan, Flustrellidra spinifera, Surfgrass, Phyllospadix
Natural Changes
Sand accretion on the south beach.
Actions & Comments
About 50 yards of a heavy drift on the middle beach. Patches of kelp in the driftline of the south beach.Kelp/algae in the driftline were: Postelsia (Sea Palm), Egregia (Feather Boa Kelp), Pleurophycus (Broad-rib Kelp), Laminaria (Dense-clumped Kelp), Nereocystis (Bull Kelp), Cystoseira (Northern Bladder Chain), Plocamium (Sea Braid), Alaria (Ribbon Kelp), Neoptilota (Red Fan Seaweed), Mazzaella (Iridescent Seaweed), Pterygophora (Old Growth Kelp), Neorhodomela (Black Larch), Fucus (Rockweed), Erythophyllum (Red Sea Leaf),Cryptoplura (Ruffled Seaweed), Callophyllis (Beautiful Leaf Seedweed), Ahnfeltiopsis(Forked Seedweed), Popphyra ( Nori) and Lessoniopsis (Strap Kelp). Twenty-two surf balls on the high 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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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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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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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.
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