June 12, 2010

In the drift line on wet sand closest to the water, I found only 0-3 small (20 mm or less) plastic particles per square foot, so few small particles appear to be currently being washed up.

Report Details

In the drift line on wet sand closest to the water, I found only 0-3 small (20 mm or less) plastic particles per square foot, so few small particles appear to be currently being washed up. However, high up on the beach, there were still patches of many particles; I counted 175 small plastics per square foot in one sample. I picked up and removed a bag of large glass and plastic debris. One Corona Extra beer bottle had 2 large goose neck barnacles growing on the metal cap (shell lengths of 36 and 38 mm).

Conditions

Temperature: 54 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Wind Direction: NW. Tide Level: 1.3 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 17. Number of dogs: 2. Walking or running: 17. While walking south on CW 215, I saw 6 Turkey Vultures tried to feed on a decomposing California sea lion on the beach, but people kept approaching, and the vultures would leave and some would come back. When I returned, the Turkey Vultures had given up.

Notable Wildlife

7 Turkey Vultures feeding on a dead California sea lion, 4 Am. Crows, 4 Western Gulls, and 1 live Emerita on the surface of the sand near the water.

Stranded Marine Mammals

Total stranded mammals: 1. 1 long dead California sea lion

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea).

Actions & Comments

I picked up and removed a bag of large glass and plastic debris.