Whidbey Island Critters

Fish & Invertebrate sightings and descriptions, hosted by resident NWDC ID expert Janna Nichols (nwscubamom).
User avatar
oldsalt
I've Got Gills
Posts: 1061
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2010 9:02 am

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by oldsalt »

Jan K wrote: And this is
the fourth dead seal I run across in last three years here. All within one
hundred feet radius. :eek:
]
DSCN4602.JPG
I've found several dead seals and sea lions, perhaps a dozen, while walking beaches this year. Also scattered bones. I assume it is the result of a high population. There was a bounty on seals until 1960. In 1972, they became protected. The population then was estimated as no more than 3000. The NOAA website states that over 30,000 were counted in the last full census. In this picture, taken earlier in the month, Chelsea checks out one carcass.
-Curt
Happy to be alive.
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Beer, coffee, cucumber - crabs with identity problems :)
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

It is not a thing of beauty, but it has place in our underwater world nevertheless.
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
LCF
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5697
Joined: Tue May 30, 2006 5:05 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by LCF »

What really astonishes me about that addition is how you EVER recognized that as an animal, rather than just some debris!
"Sometimes, when your world is going sideways, the second best thing to everything working out right, is knowing you are loved..." ljjames
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

LCF wrote:What really astonishes me about that addition is how you EVER recognized that as an animal, rather than just some debris!
When I was researching other tubeworms in books and on internet, I came across pictures of this one, so from that moment I was looking for it :)
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Chitons congregate in the shallows of Deception Pass
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Mystery blisters on bodies of Red sea cucumber. Did not see anything like this before.
Hopefully not another disease :(
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Norris
NWDC Moderator
NWDC Moderator
Posts: 4695
Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2008 2:31 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Norris »

Wow that doesn't look good at all. I saw your post on Facebook and it seems some very seasoned divers and critter watchers have never seen this either, which makes it a little more alarming. Also to add is that you saw this on more than one....

:popcorn:
**Pinch it, don't stick your finger through. You're just pinching a bigger hole.
CAPTNJACK - 2012**
Tidepool Geek
Aquaphile
Posts: 123
Joined: Sat Aug 20, 2011 10:36 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Tidepool Geek »

Hi Jan,

Isn't it also pretty unusual to see even one (let alone two) of these cukes in the open? At the Feiro Center and in the intertidal areas around Port Angeles we don't even see their feeding tentacles from about October through March!

Cryptically yours,

Alex
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

H-beam dining room for the stars. Reservations recommended.
Serving young barnacles daily :burntchef:
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Time of the year again. Lay those eggs Lingcod females ...
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Tom Nic
I've Got Gills
Posts: 9368
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:26 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Tom Nic »

Wow. She is gravely gravid!

Makes me hurt just to look at her!
More Pics Than You Have Time To Look AT
"Anyone who thinks this place is over moderated is bat-crazy anarchist." -Ben, Airsix
"Warning: No dive masters are going to be there, Just a bunch of old fat guys taking pictures of fish." -Bassman
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Three different females. And I already saw four egg masses guarded by males there.
No shortage of Lingcod at Keystone Jetty.
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
LCF
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5697
Joined: Tue May 30, 2006 5:05 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by LCF »

When mares are close to parturition, they look miserable -- they don't move around much, and may lose their appetites. It has always appeared to me that these extremely gravid fish look equally uncomfortable.
"Sometimes, when your world is going sideways, the second best thing to everything working out right, is knowing you are loved..." ljjames
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

And after eggs are laid, it is the male Lingcod's turn...
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Sandy bottom residents
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Plumose anemone tries to avoid becoming sea star's meal ...
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Greg Jensen
Amphibian
Posts: 857
Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:02 am

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Greg Jensen »

Those long white threads coming from the anemone are called acontia. They're packed with nematocysts and are ciliated-- they are normally used in the gut to subdue ingested prey but can be extruded through the body wall for defense. I had one under a microscope the other day and it was fascinating to watch it crawl around like some kind of weird worm, weaving around and coiling up like a watchspring. And of course watching the nematocysts fire.
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Update on LAngley Harbor sea stars ...
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Deception Pass- few stars- none of them sick. :joshsmith:
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

It might be dark and dreary above, but beneath the Possession Point waters,
some color can always to be found :)
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

When I returned to Deception Pass to check on Red sea cucumbers and their mystery blisters,
I did not find much change. Since I had more time to look around, I found more of them. But interestingly, all of the blistered cuks were in one area only. On both side outside it, the few cucumbers I found were all normal, without blisters. None of them are feeding, maybe wrong time of year, day...
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

More sea star stuff, Langley is the most prolific star nursery on Whidbey at this moment
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Follow up on the previous post,
when the regeneration doesn't necessarily follows the blueprint
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
Tidepool Geek
Aquaphile
Posts: 123
Joined: Sat Aug 20, 2011 10:36 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Tidepool Geek »

Hi Jan,

Very cool images and I love the 115 year old reference material!

What is the time span of this collection - are the photos relatively recent or were they accumulated over several years?

Freakishly yours,
Alex
Post Reply