April 26, 2008

Number of people: 97. Number of dogs: 17. Walking or running: 80. Playing in surf: 8. Playing in sand: 7. Sitting: 6. Other Activities: on exposed rocks 6. It was a beautiful day on the beach, sunny with high cirrus clouds and no wind to speak of. There were a lot of people and dogs, but the birds didn't seem to be disturbed. There were 10 cars on the Agate Beach end and 30 on the Nye Beach end.

Climbing bluffs/seastacks

There were only about 25 gulls visible, but there was also a small flock of birds with decurved bills that I believe were whimbrels, wading in the shallow water left behind by the receding tide.

Total dead birds: 1. This bird carcass was in bad condition. It could have been the dead Northern fulmar I noticed last time I was on the beach (it was in the same location). There was no head and I couldn't identify it for sure.

Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), 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. Several pieces of 4" by 4" lumber with protruding fasteners (huge iron nails or brads)

Where the bluff consists of sand, the sand was coming down onto the beach a little.

The tide was very low and rocks encrusted with barnacles, with a growth of algae, were exposed. There was water pooling around the base of the rocks. The beach was dry near the top at Agate Beach Wayside, but it was wet all the way to the bluffs or near to the bluffs along most of my mile. Freshwater streams crossing the beach cut a wider swath than last time I walked this mile.