GULF ISLANDS NATIONAL SEASHORE, Fla. — Gooey blobs of oil tar are washing ashore in growing numbers on the white-sand beaches of Gulf Islands National Seashore as a slick from the BP spill approaches the Florida Panhandle.

County emergency officials reported that spotters who had been seeing a few tar balls in recent days found a substantially larger number early today along the national park shore and nearby beaches.

The park is a long string of connected barrier islands near Pensacola.

Keith Wilkins from Escambia County emergency management said tar patties were pretty thick on parts of the beach, as much as one every foot.

Officials have said oil will eventually wash up on Panhandle beaches after a slick from the Deepwater Horizon spill was spotted several miles offshore this week.