Mile 197 - San Marine, Tillicum Beach, Tillicum Beach CG - August 17, 2013

Report Details

A foggy but warm early afternoon on an outgoing tide. While I was on the beach the fog cleared for a bit, but then returned. The surf was maybe 2-3 ft. I saw 30-35 people, some sunbathing, a few kids boogie boarding, and three adolescents up on the side of the cliff incising a record of their visit. I need to clarify my responsibility in that kind of scenario. As it was, I did not comment. I saw three dogs, one leashed. Farther down the beach, undisturbed, was a good-sized flock of what I think were dowitchers. In at least one spot a new-looking chunk of cliff was resting on the sand. An extraordinary number of very small bird feathers were in the drift line, for some distance up and down the beach. No large ones, just tiny ones. I was also puzzled by what seemed to be fragments of small tubular casings that looked as if they were made of sand. In a couple of places there were substantial piles of them. No idea what they could have been. Have only seen them once or twice before.

Conditions

Temperature: 68 F. Cloud Cover: Foggy. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: N.

Human Activities

Number of people: 30. Number of dogs: 3. Playing in surf: 5. Playing in sand: 3. Sitting: 2.

Concerns

Climbing bluffs/seastacks

Notable Wildlife

A sizable flock of what I think were dowitchers (long downward-curving beaks). (Bird book is still in carton after recent move.)

Driftline Content

Many, many small feathers; also what looked like fragments of small tubular casings, which seemed to be made out of sand -- ??

Natural Changes

Landslides/major boulder falls.