January 30, 2025

Walked the mile on an overcast day with typical winds just after high tide. Noted gulls and a plover, as well as 4 water birds flying south over the water - could not identify the species.

Report Details

Walked the mile on an overcast day with typical winds just after high tide. The river bank was carved into the sand and had more of a steep drop off than usual, and there was a significant collection of large logs. I collected a bag of trash with typical items (package straps, plastic, cans, candy wrappers, large boat line and several small lines, etc). The Manhattan Beach State Parks caretaker mentioned he had collected a third of a 5-gallon bucket of trash earlier in the day. He also mentioned that for the last couple of weeks very little debris had washed ashore, but on the morning of January 29th a great deal of new debris, including large logs, washed ashore. Noted several new “staircases” down to the beach, and continued erosion has made the dune edge steeper. Noted a shelter built into the sand, and two instances of wood cutting. Noted gulls and a plover, as well as 4 water birds flying south over the water - could not identify the species.

Conditions

Temperature: 45 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Tide Level: 7.5 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 3. Number of dogs: 1. Walking or running: 3. Observed ATV tracks, most likely State Parks personnel as I had observed them on another mile of the beach earlier that day.

Notable Wildlife

48 gulls 1 Semipalmated Plover 4 boards skimming the water flying south. Could not determine species, but not gulls…more like water birds.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 3. noted remains of what appeared to be 2 gulls and 1 smaller shorebird.

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

occasional dead jellyfish

New Development

Steps down bluff.

Natural Changes

Spoke with Manhattan Beach caretaker (state parks employee), and he pointed out the new logs atop the dunes and remarked that the king tides washed over the dunes and deposited the logs.

Report Images

Looking south from north end of mile

Looking north from south end of mile

Plover

Shelter in the sand

New staircase

New Staircase

Handrail…erosion making dune access steeper

Erosion

Two exposed pipes

Evidence of wood cutting/gathering (1 of two places noted)

Erosion

Bank erosion and logs

Report Images

Sheila Berry

CoastWatcher

All Mile 294 Reports

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Mile 294

Manhattan Beach, State Wayside

January 30, 2025

Walked the mile on an overcast day with typical winds just after high tide. Noted gulls and a plover, as well as 4 water birds flying south over the water - could not identify the species.

Sheila Berry