Mile 54 - South of Cape Blanco, access road to Elk River - 07/21/2024

Report Details

Beautiful day with negative tides and scattered showers. Pulled one crab pot out of the surf at low tide. Mostly clean, with usual micro plastics in wrack line. Very large sand crabs (2” long) on top of the sand, appeared to have been dug out by ravens. All of them were clutching masses of bright orange spheres under their shells (eggs?). Juvenile bald eagle was knee deep in the river when we arrived and surprised each other. The mouth of the Elk has changed dramatically. It now does a hair pin turn 100 ft from the surf, heads back almost due south on itself and meets the ocean 1/4 mile + from where it did weeks ago.

Conditions

Temperature: 56 F. Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Moderate.

Human Activities

Number of people: 10. Number of dogs: 3. Sitting: 2. Other Activities: Rockhounding, driving.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks on beach, allowed: 2.

Notable Wildlife

Many large sand crabs at high tide line appeared to have been dug out by Ravens. Sand crabs had bright orange balls (what appeared to be eggs) clutched under their shells.

Driftline Content

Marine debris (plastic, styrofoam, etc. washing in from the sea). Pretty clean today, with typical micro plastic at wrack line.

New Development

Horse trail appears to be reconnected to the beach after washing away last winter.

Natural Changes

Foredunes appear to be returning south of Elk River