Mile 218 - Agate Beach, State Wayside, Little Creek - December 5, 2017

Report Details

What a beautiful, mild, sunny December afternoon! The dunes are flattening out, and piles of bull kelp dot the beach. I was surprised not to see any pyrosomes, which have been making the news lately by their unusual appearance on the northwest coast. I have seen them on Agate beach previously, as well as other beaches, but today they were absent, and it looked like the high King tide had cleared the beach of most of the wrack. As expected, many people were out enjoying what my husband used to call a "bonus" day. I stayed to enjoy a beautiful sunset.

Conditions

Temperature: 50 F. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: W. Tide Level: 7.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 26. Number of dogs: 6. Walking or running: 19. Playing in sand: 2. Sitting: 2. Surfing: 1. Other Activities: Bicycling -- 2.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 9.

Notable Wildlife

Notable ABSENCE of pyrosomes, which have been filling up most of the local beaches the past couple of weeks. I saw hundreds on Ona Beach just a few days prior, and wonder if the high King tide could have swept them off this beach on this day?

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 1. Western grebe

Stranded Marine Mammals

Total stranded mammals: 1. California sea lion carcass about 1/4 mile south of north end, partly decomposed and scavenged.

Driftline Content

Small rocks, Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces, Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea). hydroids and octopus eggs

Natural Changes

Creek is high and wide