Mile 287 - Bayocean Peninsula north of Bayocean site 2 - January 26, 2014

Report Details

All in all, a lovely, calm day on Mile 287. There were lots of folks out enjoying the sunshine and calm, warm weather. Although tracks of horses were visible on the beach, and there were two trucks/horse trailers in the parking lot, no one was observed riding. Sand levels are as high as they've been since I began observing the mile, and the stump used as reference for sand depth is now completely buried. There are several places on the northern half of the mile where there is evidence of waves overtopping the foredune at high tide, possibly in part as a result of the high sand levels. No new depositions of Japanese tsunami debris were observed. The only notable 'wildlife' was the deposition of large numbers of small, clear, round jellyfish in the driftline. We also found a heavy metal windlass at the very northernmost end of the mile, still attached to fiberglass boat material and deposited near the high tide line. It was so heavy there was no way it could have floated there on the relatively small piece of fiberglass to which it was still attached, so it was somewhat puzzling how it might have been moved onto the shore.

Conditions

Temperature: 55 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: S. Tide Level: 3.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 25. Number of dogs: 7. Walking or running: 19. Sitting: 6. Such a gorgeous sunny day that it seemed more like summer than winter. Folks were out on the beach in summer numbers, too, clearly taking advantage of the unseasonably warm, dry weather.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 35.

Notable Wildlife

Watched a northern harrier soaring in the air, hunting behind the fore dune.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 1. immature gull

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

Unusual concentration. Large quantities of small round (1/4-1/2" diameter), clear/transparent jellyfish being deposited on beach by outgoing tide (sea gooseberry/comb jellies?). Also larger than usual number of smaller lion's mane and moon jellyfish (3-5" diameter) being deposited in driftline as well.

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.), Shells, Small rocks, Styrofoam, Wood pieces. piece of fiberglass boat material with heavy metal windlass attached to it deposited a near high tide line at north end of mile

Natural Changes

sand accretion at highest levels observed in many years

C Nelson

CoastWatcher

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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