Mile 200 Report
Big Stump Beach, south Patterson SP
February 18, 2025
The mile walk I did today was during a light rain and a fairly low tide.
Report Details
The mile walk I did today was during a light rain and a fairly low tide. Patterson Creek was flowing heavily so the low tide made it easier to cross. Not many people were at the beach this morning. As I walked south, the wrack line contained many small jelly fish and jelly fish fragments, feathers, seaweed, wood pieces, a few crab pieces and a sea star. There were a lot of vehicle tracks on the beach near the dunes. I assume it was the ranger vehicle. I saw a dead harbor seal and another dead animal but couldn’t determine what it was. There were 4 bald eagles near these animals. I also saw many sanderlings and crows. The sand build up near the burnt area was lower and made the area more accessible this time and it was nice to see a Steller’s jay in the brush. I didn’t see any new graffiti on the sandstone cliffs. The path to 101 (across from SW Sea Way Loop) is still accessible because of sand build up near the dunes. This has not been the case in previous winters. Various pieces of trash that I found walking - crabber bait jar, construction wood (2x4 and other varies types), Christmas tree, plastic bag, water bottle, glove, dog poop bag, Styrofoam pieces and other pieces of small broken plastic. A very large piece of wood with rusty metal attachments was in the sand on big stump beach. A vehicle may be needed to remove it.
Conditions
Temperature: 46 F. Cloud Cover: Rain. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: 3.0 feet.
Human Activities
Number of people: 4. Number of dogs: 1. Walking or running: 4.
Notable Wildlife
Bald eagles (4), Crows (22), Sanderlings (25), Steller's Jay (1)
Beached Birds
Total dead birds: 2. unsure of type of dead birds
Stranded Marine Mammals
Total stranded mammals: 1. Dead Harbor Seal
Driftline Content
Sea star, jellyfish
Natural Changes
Evidence of wave overtopping.
Adult and juvenile bald eagle
The wrack line
Big Stump beach looking north
Logs washed up near the Cape Cod Cottages' stairs
Sanderlings
Animal remains - bald eagles were nearby
Dead harbor seal
Bald eagles
Large piece of wood - probably need vehicle to remove from beach
Looking south from about midway on the walk
Looking south - lots of sand built up by the dunes
Various trash found during the walk
Report Images
Karen Funk
CoastWatcher
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