December 22, 2018

Report Details

Mile # 229 consists of a rocky basalt coastline which rises approximately 50-70 feet from the ocean, making the area close to the ocean inaccessible. There is walkway in the community of Little Whale Cove that allows views of the coastline from some vantage points. The cove for which the community is named is located near the south end of the pathway. The north end of mile 229 is located in the South Point neighborhood, and one would need to climb out to the rocks to capture an image looking south from this northern boundary. The south end of mile #229 is located in a wildlife refuge, and one is prohibited from walking along the hills and rocks to the south end of the mile to capture images looking north  On December 22, 2018 there is a king tide. If you are used to seeing the ocean on a daily basis as the writer, there is a noticeable change in the height of the water levels today. Many of the rocks that one would see during a normal high tide are almost or completely covered. There are a few pair of Oyster Catchers chattering as they fly past the rocks. The ocean has covered their usual feeding spots. There is a group of about 12 Black Turnstone birds and a few Surf Birds high up on rocks within view. They scurry behind the rocks as one walks by, but if you stand for awhile the birds will reappear. Usually the birds are out of sight, down at the base of the rocky cliffs near the ocean, but on this king tide day there are few rocks near the ocean that are available to forage for food, so the birds are looking for food on top of the rocks. Usually, the cove looks like a separate body of water but today the cove appears to have merged with the ocean and there are small waves reaching the shore of the cove, another sign of the king tides.