Mile 313 - Tolovana Park north, Haystack Rock - September 27, 2016

Report Details

There were many humans out on the beach for this usually slow time of the year. Dead birds were minimal, but still present. The wrack line was patchy and contained bull kelp, large woody debris, moon jellies, lions mane jellies, many mole crab casings, and some plastics. The intertidal at Haystack Rock was thriving with life and interpreters with HRAP were actively protecting the area. The sand is slowly being pulled back out from the beach as the winter storms have started rolling in.

Conditions

Temperature: 68 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: W. Tide Level: 1.3 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 120. Number of dogs: 10. Walking or running: 100. Playing in surf: 5. Playing in sand: 15. Photography: 20. Tidepooling: 40. Lovely day, HRAP truck was parked on the beach protecting Haystack Rock. Visitors were calm and leisurely. No unusual activity or sightings. There were a lot of larger logs on the beach in the wrack line. The wrack line was broken up and spotty. Lots of Gulls on the beach. Many moon jellys in the wrack line. A lot of bull kelp washed in -- usual for this time of year. Sand is slowly being pulled back out from the beach.

Concerns

Litter

Disturbances: Shorebirds moving in response to humans/dogs

Vehicles

ATVs/OHVs on beach, allowed: 1.

Notable Wildlife

Western gull, cormorant, pelican, scoter, grebe, sea stars, barnacles, mussels, bull kelp, dead moon jellys

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 20. Common murre, cormorants, grebe, gulls

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

moon jelly,

Driftline Content

Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces, Land-based debris (picnics, etc.), Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea), Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.).