Mile 232 - Boiler Bay Wayside, Picnic Area, Government Point - April 1, 2021

Report Details

Windy and sunny day. 2-3 boats (fishing and whale watching?). People milling about -- walking and watching the waves. I assume those that had cameras and binoculars were there, like me, looking for the migrating and "resident" Gray whales. One person out of a pair was flying a drone around and over Gov't Point. Others sat in their vehicles, eating, talking, and, or looking out at the water. Some ate separately, outside of their vehicles. All vehicles except one had OR or WA plates; the former had ID plates. The spot was popular for its public restrooms, lots of coming and going. There is a significant increase in plastic wrapper, paper (napkins/toilet?), paper/cloth face masks, and cigarette trash since my February 2021 visit. Upon my arrival, I noticed at least one person having difficulty disposing of their items in the trash/recycling cans.A squabble of Gulls (maybe Western) was out in force, huddled on the rocks, and lined up neatly on the fence close to the picnic tables. 2 Black Oystercatchers rested on Gov't Point, while a sunning of Cormorants (maybe Brandt's) searched for food in the water below.

Conditions

Temperature: 50 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Direction: NW.

Human Activities

Number of people: 30. Number of dogs: 3. Walking or running: 18. Sitting: 10. Other Activities: One person in a pair was flying a drone..

Concerns

Litter

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 20. RVs/Buses parking: 1.

Notable Wildlife

2 Black Oystercatchers, a squabble of adults and juvenile Gulls (probably Western?), and a sunning of Cormorants (probably Brandt's?).

Driftline Content

Wood pieces. Rope on the rocks at Gov't Point.

Natural Changes

Newly exposed roots/trees falling, Visible retreat of solid bluff. Unsure if it is new, there are exposed roots/trees falling from the barrier between the road and rocks toward the south end of the mile.

Actions & Comments

The "mole-type" hills on the grassy areas have reduced since my visit in February 2021, and the human-caused erosion of the trails seems mostly unchanged.