July 25, 2014

Temperature: 70 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: 6.8 feet.

Number of people: 30. Number of dogs: 6. Walking or running: 10. Playing in sand: 15. Other Activities: family of 5 in driftline. Families were out with children playing in the sand. We came later than we usually do so more adults were out.

Lots of birds this time. Looked like the larger birds were gulls. Couldn't identify the small shorebirds nor get close to them to photograph them.

Total dead birds: 5. Photos of these birds were sent to COASST for identification. COASST identified the larger bird as a Large Immature Gull. The other birds were identified by COASST as Common Murres. See caption for each photo for further identification. A walker told us that he had seen a dead guillemot earlier in the week. Most unusual for us to find so many dead birds.

Unusual concentration. Mole crabs were found which was a new species for us. Broken sand dollars seen.

Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Shells, Small rocks, Styrofoam, Wood pieces. Unusual object found near Henderson Creek; photo sent to South Beach Park ranger. Asphalt sheet.

Dune modification/removal. It seemed that sand had been added to the dunes in back of the houses north of Henderson Creek.

Previous eroded areas may be stable.

Sent photos of the 5 dead birds to COASST. Sent photos of the man-made object found to South Beach Park Ranger.