What the tide washed in

The tide comes in slower in White Rock than in Boundary Bay; without the need to run almost a mile straight inland, I can wade along the edge to see what's floating in the waves.

There are always piles of tangled seaweeds.

And a few individual ones, usually rockweed.

Sometimes the seaweed incorporates driftwood into the pile. This lot included many tiny spiral tubeworms, and a handful of stubby isopods.

Some of the seaweeds are faded, unidentifiable ghosts.

Not all; this hairy weed keeps its vibrant colour even as it rots.

Land-based leaves return home, eroded by the salt water.

So does an unfortunate ladybug.

The molted remains of a purple shore crab.

The waves bring back sand that they took away earlier.

Homo sapiens, var. intertidalus, returning to land with the tide. The gulls will stay put until the water brings them supper.

All is well. But there are other "goodies" coming in on the waves:

Plastic rope.

A large plastic bag.

"Pure Life", it reads. "Eau de source naturelle". (Water from a natural source.)  Good stuff, great for the environment. (/sarcasm)

More "Pure Life".

And tinfoil. Garlic-flavoured something or other.

Why I pick up all the plastics and tinfoil I find:

Recently dead gull. We looked it over; there was no sign of injury or disease. Every feather was clean and in order. The bent-back head, without other evidence of illness, suggests possible asphyxiation. Caused by trying to eat a plastic bag, maybe?

I would love to put up large signs along the parking lane, reading, "PLASTIC BAGS KILL GULLS". But would they do any good?