Report Details

It was a beautiful mild day, there were a small handful of people out enjoing the day. The tide was very low, there were some people fishing in the surf, many people playing with their dogs, one person riding a dirt bike, a family flying a kite. The channel in the estuary had changed dramatically since the last time I visited this part of the beach. It was a couple hundred yards further North, and had changed shape further back in the estuary. Lots of cut lumber littered the area where the Necanicum feeds into the ocean. I found one black garbage bag full of marine debris, it looked like mostly plastic peices. It had been sitting long enough that seagulls had been picking at it trying to get to the contents. I'm not sure if it had fallen off of a ship, or if someone had been collecting garbage on the beach and never made it to the garbage can. There was also some sort of contraption made of a large bamboo pole bound on both ends with black elctrical tape, and tied to it with a piece of rope was a plastic bottle of toilet bowl cleaner, possibly from Japan?

Conditions

Temperature: 50 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Tide Level: 0.9 feet.

Human Activities

Number of people: 19. Number of dogs: 8. Walking or running: 10. Playing in sand: 5. Fishing: 4. Other Activities: one dirt bicycle rider. a family fishing in the surf, people throwing ball for their dogs, a jogger, kite flying, one person riding a bicyle.

Concerns

Fire, Litter

Apparent violations: none.

Vehicles

Cars/trucks parking: 10. RVs/Buses parking: 1.

Notable Wildlife

gulls in the surf

Beached Birds

Total dead birds: 1. There was a carcass that wasn't recognizable, mainly feathers but covered with a lot of sand.

Driftline Content

Shells, Animal casings (e.g., crab, shrimp molt), Wood pieces, Ocean-based debris (from fishing boats, ship trash, etc.). A large tree with root ball still attached, there was a lot of wood that cat been cut by people, it was concentrated where the Nacanicum meets the ocean. Most likely came from up the river. Many sand dollars, broken and some whole, in the waterline.

Man-made Modifications

Rip rap holding the bank together behind the sewer plant. Large boulders and tree snags with roots.

Report Images

Report Images

Share this post

All Mile 324 Reports

Showing 8 of 59 reports

Mile 324

August 2, 2023

People enjoying the beach, nesting Snowy Plovers in distress, Juvenile Brown Pelicans learn about dogs;

SeagerG

Mile 324

July 31, 2023

Lots of birds observed: Osprey - 2 fishing at mouth of estuary; one adult and one juvenile Adult Bald Eagle resting on north end of Necanicum SpitSnowy Plover flying around estuary island acting distressed with a loose Jack Russel Terrier in the vicinity of Nest 7A

SeagerG

Mile 324

July 29, 2023

New flock of Brown Pelicans at mouth of estuary along with some Canada Geese, seagulls and Caspian Terns were disturbed several times before relocating to sandbar surrounded by water;Snowy Plover disturbed on island between Necanicum River and Neawanna Creek by two people tidepooling;Tour Helicopter flew over five separate times twice low enough (though probably not illegal) to disturb two Bald Eagles and two Osprey hunting in estuary;Small structure built of driftwood still on the Necanicum Spit being used as shelter;

SeagerG

Mile 324

July 18, 2023

SeagerG

Mile 324

July 10, 2023

We saw lots of dead crabs, some kelp and algae on the surfline, and some driftwood.

Troop 12347

Mile 324

August 4, 2022

My morning walk began gloriously with the sun peaking through the clouds and chirping birds flitting through the dune grasses.

SeagerG

Mile 324

July 9, 2022

Two Snowy Plovers seen with eggs at nests within protected sites.

SeagerG

Mile 324

July 8, 2022

Beautiful clear day, moderate amount of human activity; two Snowy Plovers seen in newly designated protected areas exhibiting nesting behavior; one harbor seal pup on the rocks of the Necanicum Inlet Island; numerous seagulls and terns along with a few cormoronts; The amount of fireworks debris, burned logs, and styrofoam at the waterline is disheartening.

SeagerG