Whidbey Island Critters
Lingcod
And the Lingcod keep on eating...
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
You consistently get the most AMAZING photographs!
I look at those teeth and think about the lings at Edmonds, with heads almost as wide as my shoulders, and think maybe I should stay a little further away next time
I look at those teeth and think about the lings at Edmonds, with heads almost as wide as my shoulders, and think maybe I should stay a little further away next time
"Sometimes, when your world is going sideways, the second best thing to everything working out right, is knowing you are loved..." ljjames
great escape
What got my attention at this encounter was first the white color of the Giant Sea Cucumber (aka California Cucumber). When I turned to investigate the murky water movement, I found that a large Sunflower Star was trying to capture it. It was very interesting to watch how the cucumber inflated its body and then used a snakelike movement to slid from the star's grip. Considering that both animals lack eyes, it was fascinating to see how the cucumber picked its escape route and how fast it moved. The cucumber did manage to get away unharmed
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
Pipefish
Our Pacific Northwest sea horse taking parenting seriously...
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
Puget Sound King Crab
Hi Ken, the Pipefish is not that common here on Whidbey, or maybe it is because my eyes are not that good...
The next critter is little easier to spot, wearing a nice bright orange color. But this is the color of the future King, as the adult Kings are more varied in texture and colors. Unfortunately, the Keystone and Langley where I dive most, are not the right habitat for this crab and so adult sighting will require some travel off this island.
The next critter is little easier to spot, wearing a nice bright orange color. But this is the color of the future King, as the adult Kings are more varied in texture and colors. Unfortunately, the Keystone and Langley where I dive most, are not the right habitat for this crab and so adult sighting will require some travel off this island.
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
Strange encounters
Local crabs never cease to amaze me. This is the first time I found Dungeness Crab holding Red Rock Crab in what I saw somewhere called as the premating embrace. In the past I saw them fighting, ignoring each other, but never hugging. The smaller Red Rock crab was not showing any signs of distress or putting up resistance, as I tried to get photos from different angles, the Dungeness crab took flight, never releasing its partner. (Which is very common sight when I come across pairs.)
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
- Grateful Diver
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Re: Puget Sound King Crab
I've noticed that it's not unusual to find juvenile PSKC at Keystone ... but I've never seen one there bigger than about the size of a quarter.Jan K wrote:Hi Ken, the Pipefish is not that common here on Whidbey, or maybe it is because my eyes are not that good...
The next critter is little easier to spot, wearing a nice bright orange color. But this is the color of the future King, as the adult Kings are more varied in texture and colors. Unfortunately, the Keystone and Langley where I dive most, are not the right habitat for this crab and so adult sighting will require some travel off this island.
Always wondered where they went when they decided to grow up ... and more importantly, how the juveniles got to Keystone in the first place (drifting in the current, most likely) ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
California Lyonsia
This one was not easy to identify. In the beginning I leaned toward Pandora genus, but could not google any pictures, I e-mailed picture to more experienced people, many are in the field working on research projects (vacations ), finally Leslie from Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County found Don Cadien whom I quote in today's post. Isn't critterwatching exciting ?
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
Puget Sound rockfish
It looks like we get some more rockfish at Keystone soon
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
Thank you Valerie for kind words, for moment I thought nobody looks at these posts anymore
And of course, you are right about the worn out appearance of gravid females. It has to be hard to carry the load and watch out for all the Lingcod looking for easy meal who lay around the Keystone Jetty rocks...
And of course, you are right about the worn out appearance of gravid females. It has to be hard to carry the load and watch out for all the Lingcod looking for easy meal who lay around the Keystone Jetty rocks...
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
Jan I love seeing these! I think if you watched the number of times this thread is viewed, you'd see that it goes up a lot each time you post a new piece. PLEASE continue - I personally really enjoy it and enjoy showing them to family and friends.Jan K wrote:Thank you Valerie for kind words, for moment I thought nobody looks at these posts anymore
And of course, you are right about the worn out appearance of gravid females. It has to be hard to carry the load and watch out for all the Lingcod looking for easy meal who lay around the Keystone Jetty rocks...
Thank you!!!
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Interesting development in the bivalve ID story. After more consultations between experts in California, e-mail this morning changed the California Lyonsia classification to Rock Entodesma aka Northwest Ugly Clam (Entodesma navicula). Never a dull moment in the Invertebrates realm. Even experts make mistakes, so we can too
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
Jan, don't ever think that people aren't looking at these wonderful pages! Every time I open a site and one of your threads comes up as having new posts, I look to see if you are the poster, and if so, I immediately go to see what you have added.
Not only do you do beautiful photography and clever, funny artwork, but these pages are an incredible critter identification resource as well. You have multiple photographs, frequently from different angles, and identify the creature as well as add information about its habits. As I've said before, these really should be collected into book form. But failing that, KEEP THEM COMING!
Not only do you do beautiful photography and clever, funny artwork, but these pages are an incredible critter identification resource as well. You have multiple photographs, frequently from different angles, and identify the creature as well as add information about its habits. As I've said before, these really should be collected into book form. But failing that, KEEP THEM COMING!
"Sometimes, when your world is going sideways, the second best thing to everything working out right, is knowing you are loved..." ljjames
- Grateful Diver
- I've Got Gills
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- Joined: Mon May 15, 2006 7:52 pm
Oregon Hairy Triton
Well, thank you all - your kind words are encouraging.
So on we go with Whidbey Island critters. It seems that the Oregon Hairy Triton is about finished with their parenting job - many of the egg capsule spirals are empty. Next time you have the chance to watch the Triton lay eggs, stop and watch them for while as they jerk and twist on top of the capsules laying those eggs...
So on we go with Whidbey Island critters. It seems that the Oregon Hairy Triton is about finished with their parenting job - many of the egg capsule spirals are empty. Next time you have the chance to watch the Triton lay eggs, stop and watch them for while as they jerk and twist on top of the capsules laying those eggs...
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
Kirsten, I am always open to suggestions, if there is somebody who knows about publishing, well, lets see what can be done, thanks .
Sea of Green: I have Olympus C-8080 in Ikelite housing, it is a Point and Shoot camera, the lens is fixed, 7.1 - 35.6 mm zoom (digital #s).
Sea of Green: I have Olympus C-8080 in Ikelite housing, it is a Point and Shoot camera, the lens is fixed, 7.1 - 35.6 mm zoom (digital #s).
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I think having a way to print all his works to date and put them in a book that could be continuously added to would be perfect... Jan's work is like a cell phone - the minute you get it, it's out-dated.Jan K wrote:Kirsten, I am always open to suggestions, if there is somebody who knows about publishing, well, lets see what can be done, thanks .
GUE Seattle - The official GUE Affiliate in the Northwest!
[quote="Sounder"
I think having a way to print all his works to date and put them in a book that could be continuously added to would be perfect... Jan's work is like a cell phone - the minute you get it, it's out-dated.[/quote]
Sounder, funny you mentioned it, that was one of the hurdles I try to deal with. I thought maybe it the "book" was spiral binded, there could be supplements added periodically to keep it up to date. But publishing is subject I don't know anything about..
I think having a way to print all his works to date and put them in a book that could be continuously added to would be perfect... Jan's work is like a cell phone - the minute you get it, it's out-dated.[/quote]
Sounder, funny you mentioned it, that was one of the hurdles I try to deal with. I thought maybe it the "book" was spiral binded, there could be supplements added periodically to keep it up to date. But publishing is subject I don't know anything about..
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
Exactly! You could continually add volumes to it!
GUE Seattle - The official GUE Affiliate in the Northwest!