Mile 116 - Seven Devils cliffs, Cape Arago South Cove - March 28, 2021

Report Details

I did walk my complete mile (as much as can be walked) this time. I paid special attention to the tidepools on the Northern edge of South Cove and around the point. Many people came to enjoy the pleasant weather and the minus tide. I found one ochre sea star with wasting disease and sent an observation to MARINe. I saw markers, so I know my walk around the point was into a routinely monitored area. I found 25 ochre sea stars, the majority healthy seeming. Also found two healthy seeming blood sea stars. I was astounded by how many gumboot chitons I saw. I've found them before in the tide pools on the Northern edge of South Cove, but they were super numerous out toward the point. Most seemed healthy, but a few looked in distress. There is also an abundance of purple sea urchins. They carpet the low intertidal area. Most are well established, drilled down into the rock, but I saw juveniles and others that hadn't drilled out their own home yet. There does seem to be more abundance out at the point compared to the pools in the cove.

Conditions

Temperature: 52 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: N. Tide Level: 0.0 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 30. Number of dogs: 5. Walking or running: 28. Sitting: 2. Photography: 3. Tidepooling: 28. Fishing: 4. A lot more people than I expected, but, it was a very pleasant day and a minus tide. I met 4 people on the trail down to the beach, not included in my count.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 11.

Notable Wildlife

I saw over 20 gumboot chitons out at the point in the low exposed areas. There are vast carpets of sea urchins. Saw my first red sea urchins. (I didn't even know they came in red until a few weeks ago.)

Dead Fish or Invertebrates

I did find one ochre sea star wasting away. I submitted another Sea Star Observation to MARINe.

Driftline Content

Again, I didn't notice the drift line. D'oh!

Natural Changes

Landslides/major boulder falls.

Report Images

alaingamerica

CoastWatcher

All Mile 116 Reports

Date

Showing 8 of 44 reports

Mile 116

Seven Devils cliffs, Cape Arago South Cove

March 16, 2024

There was a beach hazard statement issued and I wanted to see what impact that would have as we were experiencing the first fine weather after so many weeks of cold rain. I was charmed by a family of six playing on the beach, the children even playing in the water.

Elaine Cramer