Mile 287 - Bayocean Peninsula north of Bayocean site 2 - January 13, 2023

Report Details

Remarkably clear smooth sand with small amount of driftwood pushed high up the beach. One dead bird, possibly a petrel. Very little seaweed except a couple of tangles of kelp, one of which had a large rope entangled, which I extracted and salvaged. It was a fairly warm, cloudy day with a light wind and brief rain shower. Besides my guest, his dog and me, I saw 3 people and 3 dogs on the beach. Two horses were being loaded in the parking lot when I arrived and I saw horse prints on the beach but no manure. No wildlife other than a gull or two over the water.

Conditions

Temperature: 53 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: S. Tide Level: 3.7 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 5. Number of dogs: 4. Walking or running: 5. Other Activities: Horses were being loaded up as I arrived. Horse prints but no manure seen on beach.. Included a horse trailer with two horses.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 5.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 1. Possibly a petrel? Small dark bird, photo attached.

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces, Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.). Remarkably clear sand with the relatively small amount of driftwood pushed high to the top of the beach. I salvaged one large, long rope with sinkers on it that was tangled through a clump of kelp. Otherwise, just a few strands of grassy material (not beach grass), no gravel seen, few shells and casings.

Report Images

Northward on mile 287, cloudy day, very washed smooth sand

Large rope tangled in clump of kelp

Dead bird, maybe petrel

View southward from north end of mile 287 (cloudy day, clean beach)

Report Images

JuliaH

CoastWatcher

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Date

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Mile 287

Bayocean Peninsula north of Bayocean site 2

March 17, 2024

The cloudy marine layer that was present when we first arrived eventually burned off, providing us with a pleasant but breezy sunny afternoon for our visit. 1) We encountered an intact hull of a fiberglass boat on the mid-section of the mile; photos and location information was provided to the State Park Ranger so it could be retrieved from the beach. 2) There had been a massive influx of velella velella (by-the-wind sailors) washed ashore several days before our visit. 3) Given the number of folks in the parking area when we arrived, we had expected to see more folks on mile 287 but encountered just a typical number of visitors. 4) There was more detritus on the beach than we've seen in recent previous visits.

C NELSON