Mile 20 Report
Saddle Rock, Crook Point
July 23, 2009
Kelp/algae, animal casings, wood pieces, Leather Bryozoa, Hydrozoa and one Gumboot Chiton in driftline.
Report Details
Kelp/algae, animal casings, wood pieces, Leather Bryozoa, Hydrozoa and one Gumboot Chiton in driftline. Two Common Murre and one Brandt's Cormorant dead on beach. Rhinoceros Auklet, Pelagic Cormorant, Pigeon Guillemont, Red-throated Loon, Double-crested Cormorant in bay. Cliff Swallows flying over beach. 45 Harbor Seals in bay and on off-shore rocks. California Sea Lions barking on offshore rocks. Raccoon caught on an offshore rock by this morning's very low tide had to swim back across the bay. Sand continues to accumulate on south beach. Wind speed of 16 mph. Air and ocean temperature of 55 and 54.7 degrees F., respectively. Low human impact (1)-clamming.
Conditions
Temperature: 55 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Wind Direction: NW.
Human Activities
Number of people: 1. Other Activities: 1-clamming.
Notable Wildlife
45 Harbor Seals in bay and on rocks. We watched a raccoon caught on an offshore rock, swim across the bay to shore. Rhinoceros Auklet, Pelagic Cormorants, Pigeon Guillemont, Red-throated Loon, Double-crested Cormorants flying over and swimming in the bay. Cliff swallows seen flying over headland and bay. California Sea Lions on offshore rocks.
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 3. 2 Common Murre1 Brandt's Cormorant
Driftline Content
Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces. Leather Bryozoa (Flustrellidra), one Gumboot Chiton, Hydrozoa
Natural Changes
Sand continues to build up on south beach.
Actions & Comments
Kelp/algae found in the driftline were Saccharina (Sea Cabbage), Hymenena (Black-lined Red Seaweed), Egregia (Feather Boa Kelp), Alaria (Ribbon Kelp), Cystoseira (Northern Bladder Chain), Callophyllis (Beautiful Leaf Seaweed), Mazzaella (Iridescent Seaweed), Plocamium cartilagineum (Sea Braid), Pterygophora (Old Growth Kelp), Desmarestia ligulata (Acid Kelp or Broad Acid Weed), Postelsia palmaeformis (Sea Palm), Laminaria sinclairii (Dense-clumped Kelp), Laminaria setchellii (Split Kelp), and Prionitis (Bleach Weed).
Report Images
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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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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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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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