Mile 49 - Graveyard Point, Port, Harbor, Battle Rock - March 23, 2011

Report Details

This was the first time I have been to the beach since the recent tsunami. Erosion in a couple of places at the top of one beach could have been from those waters.There seemed to be more trash than usual, including a lot of pieces of broken plastic. Time for the spring beach cleanup.People were quietly enjoying the beach on this calm morning. A kayaker was just offshore.

Conditions

Temperature: 60 F. Cloud Cover: Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: -0.8 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 19. Number of dogs: 1. Walking or running: 11. At Battle Rock beach access: 2 cars, 5 people walkingAt Dock Beach: 5 cars, 6 people walking, 1 dogOn the dock: 35 vehicles, mostly pickups, 8 people, busy with chores

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 42.

Notable Wildlife

1 live brownish-black duck-like bird, apparently injured. It was on the beach, on its stomach and hardly moved when I stood about a foot from it. Fuzzy head. The tide was coming in and when I last saw it, the bird was trying to float out to sea beyond the breakers. It flapped its wings but couldn't seem to use its legs.

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 1. black, orange legs and feet, short duck-like bill. It was lying in the surf and I got my feet and pants legs wet, trying to identify it. (not successful)

Natural Changes

Erosion of vegetated foredune. See later comments.