April 9, 2021

Temperature: 55 F. Cloud Cover: Partly Cloudy. Wind Velocity: Moderate. Wind Direction: N. Tide Level: 3.5 feet.

Number of people: 3. Number of dogs: 1. Sitting: 1. Windsurfing: 2. Other Activities: N/A. I did not observe whether there were vehicles in parking area for this section of beach. I parked at Mile 23, Pistol River N. 3 other cars in lot, aside from mine. WIndsurfers, noted above, appeared out on the mile 22 water after I got back to my car.

1. Flock of what I believe were Buffleheads on Pistol River in the wide, deep bend between the beach and the highway. The group, maybe 10 -12, included birds with the striking black and white Bufflehead plumage & distinct, huge heads, as well as birds that were brownish and mottled. They congregated like birds of the same species. Possibly males and females or adults and juveniles. They paddled around, acted like ducks, then flew off. I viewed from a distance with binoculars. 2. At the mouth of the Pistol River there was a large flock of seagulls, many a speckled brown color. Among them were two startlingly different birds: bright white chests and lower face, stark black flat across top of head, and thick, straight dark orange bills. They took off in flight, had black pointy wings. Per Merlin bird app, Caspian Terns. 3. Two seals observed at mouth of Pistol River, on sand. One was smaller than the other. They were both brown. The smaller one was moving around on the sand. I was far away, approximately 700 feet, and using binoculars, but when I took two steps in their direction they plunged into the water and looked at me. I immediately turned and walked away.

Small rocks, Seaweeds and seagrass, Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt). Driftline was clean. Between the dunes and the river-- where the river flows behind the dunes-- there was one chunk of styrofoam, a large tangle of rope and very damaged floats, and a large truck or tractor tire. I was not equipped to collect large items. I picked up a small plastic bottle and two plastic lids.

Erosion of vegetated foredune. This whole section of beach is basically a sandbar between river and ocean. There is a section where the sand changes from soft beige and black and green to flat, hard, and pebbly-- like riverbottom. The north side of this section has a sandbar extending from land towards sea, perpendicular to the shoreline. This appears to be an older path of the river, which is now maybe a quarter mile further south. The dunes all along this mile are heavily eroded and there are massive patches of driftwood-- huge trunks, trees--just inside the dunes as well as all along the river and flat areas. Appears to be a combination of debris washed down the river as well as tossed up by the ocean during storms. The eroded sections of dunes have patches where the grass is matted and damaged and roots are exposed. Overall the dune grass looked very healthy.