Mile 218 - Agate Beach, State Wayside, Little Creek - August 17, 2008

Report Details

Quite a heavy marine layer and fog rolling in along with lightning and thunder rumblings. The air was so charged that our hair was full of static and scalp was buzzing. Probably was a sign we should not be on the beach.We were taking part along with about 15 others in a scavenger hunt lead by Skye Moody. Everyone collected lots of ocean and human debris-plastic, rope, flotsam, a syringe, broken glass, clothes, a piece of fish jawbone with 4 teeth in it, landscape cloth, rusted cans and so on. Not so much flotsam but the mile got a good clean up by the group. Lots of fun.

Conditions

Temperature: 63 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: 0.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 40. Number of dogs: 3. Walking or running: 20. Playing in sand: 6. Other Activities: Wedding on the beach.

Concerns

Litter

Disturbances: Shorebirds moving in response to humans/dogs

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 25.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 2.

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

full skeleton sea lion (clean bones)among the dunes towards the creeklooks like it was brought in on the last storm surge or was uncovered by shifting dunes.

Driftline Content

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.), Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea), Styrofoam. see comments

Natural Changes

Too foggy to see much of anything that day

Actions & Comments

Summer dune formation in full swing. Drifts up to at least 5 feet. The wave energy buoy convoy was in place for over a week. Haven't seen as many whales migrating north this season. Did see a mother and a calf. The calf was having a great time jumping and fluking. At first I thought it was a pod of dolphin. Side note: 8/23/08 just a bit south of Moolack Beach access a dead but fully intact shark about 2 feet long at the water line. Not good on identification and didn't have my camera with me. Quite an impressive specimen.