Whidbey Island Critters

Fish & Invertebrate sightings and descriptions, hosted by resident NWDC ID expert Janna Nichols (nwscubamom).
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LCF
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by LCF »

LOVE IT, Jan! We have ALL had those dives -- for me, especially in the winter, which I call the season "when the viz is great, and there is nothing to see in it" :).
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

I didn't know that...
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LCF
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by LCF »

What perfect timing (and lovely photos of rather challenging critters to photograph)! The ascent from our dive last night was FULL of jellies -- gooseberries, comb jellies, and dozens of these medusas. It always makes the dive richer to know something about the animals one is admiring; thank you, as always, Jan.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

This is one mean hombre. Watch out sea pen !
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Admiralty Inlet's DRIFTWOOD PARK revisited.
Added new fish to my list, not a good picture as it darted around the current stirred
kelp blades and floating plankton, but until better shot comes along, this has to do..
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Wolfie is always a welcome sight on a dive ...
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Rockfish, ratfish and greenling also find home around the tires ...
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dwashbur
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by dwashbur »

That last one made me want to start chanting: "Rockfish and ratfish and greenlings, oh my! Rockfish and ratfish and greenlings, oh my!" Great pix as usual.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Be careful out there ! There is danger in those murky waters ..
Have a great Fourth of July .
And keep an eye on those long stingy things trailing behind those jellies - like the Lion's mane :eek:
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LCF
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by LCF »

Cool photos, Jan!

I always laugh at the egg yolk jellies caught by the metridiums in Cove 2. Sometimes there are so many that they look like a fireman's breakfast!
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PapaZ
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by PapaZ »

Jana,
Great photos of the Cnidarians. You really put together great picts.
Nasty nematocysts on the Lion Mane's, but are the ones on the 'egg yolks' a problem to humans?
Also, what is the 'latest' from the medical guru's for treatment of the Lion Mane stings to us?
Happy Independence Day to you,
PapaZ
:bye:
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

PapaZ wrote:Jana,
Great photos of the Cnidarians. You really put together great picts.
Nasty nematocysts on the Lion Mane's, but are the ones on the 'egg yolks' a problem to humans?
Also, what is the 'latest' from the medical guru's for treatment of the Lion Mane stings to us?
Happy Independence Day to you, PapaZ :bye:
Hi PapaZ. I am glad you like the pictures. Just to set the record straight. Janna is the REAL Critter Watcher
and expert. I am Jan, graying diver :)
Egg Yolk jelly stings are not problems to humans as far as I know.
Here is what the latest remedy suggests for the much nastier sting by the Lion's Mane ...
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Dusty2
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Dusty2 »

Awesome photos! You always come up with the unusual shots. I love the color and lighting on them all. Tough little buggers to get good photos of. Two thumbs up on these. :supz:
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Thanks Dusty,
Few more shots from the same dive at Langley Tire Reef:
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Lurking among the tires:
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Blaiz
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Blaiz »

awesome find jan; i've never seen an octopus at langley, which has always made me wonder, since the place has so many tasty crabs
The student was ready.


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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Blaiz wrote:awesome find jan; i've never seen an octopus at langley, which has always made me wonder, since the place has so many tasty crabs
That octo is from Driftwood park, always check the little print on each page, there are my dive log pages:
where and when. :)
I did see GPOs at Langley few times, but you are right, for some reason, that place is not crawling with them.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Driftwood Red octo isn't the same you girls saw yesterday and your buddy
Ann took picture of.
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Blaiz
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Blaiz »

you are correct, i saw langley in the pictures above and didnt check the date/location stamp. my fail :)
The student was ready.


it's nice to have low expectations, sometimes - lcf

I said keep going, not start whining -airsix
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Another encounter with Red octopus. This time I was lucky to watch their courtship.
For over 50 minutes they touched, were very active, but did not move from their
positions, totally ignored me and my strobe, I wish I was into video ... So have to
settle for still photos ...
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John Rawlings
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by John Rawlings »

Fantastic photos, Jan!!!!!

This is something that I have not seen before and I'm grateful that you shared it here with us.

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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by dphershman »

John Rawlings wrote:Fantastic photos, Jan!!!!!

This is something that I have not seen before and I'm grateful that you shared it here with us.

- John

Yes, wonderful set of images. :notworthy:

All the little reds that I saw at Redondo last year are gone, perhaps the storms that rearranged most of the UW landscape there swept all the young red octos away.
Dan Hershman :smt024
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Dusty2
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Dusty2 »

Awesome Jan! I had the privilege of watching a similar get together last year but not in such detail. Lucky you. How is it you always seem to be in the right place at the right time? :notworthy:
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by oldsalt »

Astounding. For an old guy you do o.k..
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Couple young Wolf eels from the same dive.
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Blaiz
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Blaiz »

jan, one of these days im going to grill you on photograph techniques, then follow you around on a dive so I can learn to be awesome, too! I love the full colors of the baby eels and crisp focus all along the shot!
The student was ready.


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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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First time I found Puget Sound King crab (even if only a juvenile), at Possession Point Fingers...
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LCF
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by LCF »

Look at those tiny king crabs! They are literally one of my favorite creatures I've seen in the ocean anywhere; I doubt I would spot any that small. What fun, Jan!
"Sometimes, when your world is going sideways, the second best thing to everything working out right, is knowing you are loved..." ljjames
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