Mile 172

Took the missus out for a trial walk with her new walking sticks, initially heading north into the wind from Driftwood Shores Resort up to Sutton Creek and return with a nice tailwind.  The on-going stranding of "By-The-Wind Sailors (Velella velellas) is piling up gazillions of the creatures all along...read more

• 

Spring shorebird migration underway. Several flocks of up to 200 birds feeding on beach. Mostly western sandpiper and dunlin, with a few semi-palmated plovers. One Bald Eagle.No sign of Tsunami Debris. Driftline content normal.read more

The mouth of Sutton Creek has moved North in the past month.The creek comes in at a Southerly direction and hits the man made berm near the gated community and then veers back in a Northwesterly direction before entering the ocean.read more

• 
• 

Noticable absence of plastic, beach very clean, very little driftline deposit - manmade or natural.read more

Horse tracks on north end of this mile.A lot of plastic in driftline. Also lots of beachgrass in driftline which has eroded from dunes during recent heavy storms.read more

This was a very warm, sunny, low wind, and generally beautiful day! There was extensive evidence of shorebirds feeding in the wet sand in the past few hours. Only crows and gulls were present when were there.The 11 dead birds we found in our mile was the highest number we...read more

Massive amounts of Jellyfish on the beach in the southern portion of Mile 172. Also many fresh large piles of Bull Kelp. People reported hundreds of Sea Stars washed up yesterday. Observed one stranded Western Grebe on beach that was slowly working its way back towards the ocean.read more

• 
• 
• 
• 

Survey conducted by Mark and Aidan. Numerous people, few birds, and high winds. Quite a bit of small plastic in driftline. Large concrete block base has been exposed by wind erosion revealing wooden pieces bolted to concrete suggesting possiblility concrete block was bolted to large wooden dock/pier when originally deposited...read more

• 
• 
• 
• 

Shorebird migration in progress with 1000-1200 shorebirds seen feeding on the beach in large flocks at one time. These feeding birds were predominately Western Sandpiper with some Dunlin, and a few Dowichers and Semi-Palmated Plovers. Fly-bys included Whimbrels and Brown Pelicans.read more

• 
• 
• 

There is quite a bit of standing water on the beach right now, which seems to be coming from the creek just south of Driftwood Shores. Has something gone awry with the drainage in this area? The beach looks extremely dirty, and in some areas is covered with green moss...read more

• 
• 

Clean beach, excepting 30 plastic strapping tapes (seems like boxes were opened out at sea) and about 12 sandwich-size wax papers & plastic bags. Re report by 173, Sutton Creek meandered back north,(see photos 11/28 & 12/23);and, the cement block (2 photos attached 12/23) moved south about 1/8 miles, south...read more

• 
• 
• 
• 

1) Unlike 11/01 with literally thousands of seagulls coming in swarms and eating like sand pipers from the bubbly receding surf. Two days later just a couple hundreds remain; and now 15 days later about 20. 2) Driftwood Shores drainage is showing toilette paper like discharge upon sand, draining to...read more

• 
• 

Rip Rap N/W corner of Driftwood Shores.Sand coming back. Clean beach. A grouping of natural, little sand sculpturesread more

• 
• 
• 
• 

Clean beach, sand seem to be accumulating slowly as usual outcrops seem to be buried more. Many 3-4" crabs casing. Many small clumps of kelp laced with feathers. Large kelp plants ashore. All seem to be result of recent storm and wave surges onto beach.read more

Sand seems to be accumulating at foredune. Sea grass, hair, sea palms and kelp in abundance. Unleashed and leashed dogs are leaving droppings. Children unknowingly playing near. 7/19 temp was 72, very light winds, about 200 people, with about 20 playing in the surf, 30+ sitting/laying in sand.read more

• 
• 
• 

1500 hrs 6/7/07. Imminent showers.4 of 6 telephone poles still remain. Fresh octopus located at high tide line. 100s of crab casings and dismembered legs. Large sand flea casings. See photos.Storm/tide?? also brought memorial ocean-wreaths (6).read more

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Clean Beach, calm day. No dead fowl or mammals. Many shells, small rocks and wood pieces. Nothing unusual or problematic.read more

High water, high wind equals beautiful drifts of foam. No debris present. Lots of logs, lumber, and shells. Ocean & beach very clean. Sutton Creek, at the bend entering the ocean, is more like a bay today. Plentiful rain increased size of natural creeks coming up from sand.read more

• 
• 
• 

Dogs off leash ran after "sandpipers" and seagulls. Generally clean beach, sand is gone compared with last week.read more