Mile 218 Report
Agate Beach, State Wayside, Little Creek
December 5, 2017
What a beautiful, mild, sunny December afternoon!
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
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
All Mile 218 Reports
Mile 218
Agate Beach, State Wayside, Little Creek
*** Watch Note *** This is my first documentation of Mile 218 (Agate Beach) and I will use today's report as a baseline for reporting future changes.
Darlynd
Mile 218
Agate Beach, State Wayside, Little Creek
I first attempted this survey on June 17.
dderickson
Mile 218
Agate Beach, State Wayside, Little Creek
Very few people on the beach; most of them arrived just prior to sunset (which was beautiful).
dderickson
Mile 218
Agate Beach, State Wayside, Little Creek
Beautiful clear afternoon with no problems noticed.
Peacecoaster
Mile 218
Agate Beach, State Wayside, Little Creek
Most of the people were at the north end of the beach.
dderickson
Mile 218
Agate Beach, State Wayside, Little Creek
A lot of people on the beach this evening -- hard to keep count!
dderickson
Mile 218
Agate Beach, State Wayside, Little Creek
Better late than never -- I missed reporting in March!
dderickson