Great beachcombing find

Two Bald Eagle chicks on their tide line nest, almost a decade ago on Middleton Island (Gulf of Alaska). The entire family (as well as 5 more nesting pairs and some non-breeders) were subject to a certified diet study at the time, for which we met once every two weeks. Currently trying to close that gap between fieldwork and publication…

Torreira - Sao Jacinto beached bird and mammal… and REPTILE transect (November 12, 2014)

The first Leatherback sea turtle Dermochelys coriacea we found, also the first reptile species we recorded on the transect.





Below the second Leatherback, laying on his… leather back.








The head (rotated 180°), showing some teeth. I thought these were very friendly animals.






Throughout our walk we encountered very clear tide lines.




Coastal erosion at work. It wasn’t like this a month and a half ago.




Goose barnacles Lepadidae growing on a buoy.




We noticed an increase in the amount of washed up small plastic particles, including what seemed to be some industrial plastic pellets.




Near Sao Jacinto, the beach is now almost made up entirely from plastic litter.