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Surfperch and nature on the sandy beaches

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Beach Combing

theoutershores

My thoughts and experiences on the exposed outer coast. Lots of photos and a few words about intertidal nature. I’m always thinking about sandy beach connections to its sister ecosystems, the rocky intertidal, estuaries, and coastal forests. You can see photos of things I’ve found washed ashore on my Wrack Line pages. If you are looking for new takes on common intertidal algae, plants, and animals, I’m always updating my Variety of Life pages. I love the full-page layout on all theoutershores’ pages.

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Beachcomb Quiz: What did this drifter once contain? (answer at the bottom)⁣ ⁣ Clues: (1) There is a bit of remnant content visible in the well, above and left of center; (2) it’s a product used around the world; and (3) note script at the bottle’s base ⁣ ⁣ I don’t know where the drift began or when it ended, but it did end, at least for the time being, up on the backshore among the big wood where empty bottles, floats, light bulbs, and flip-flops end up. I happened upon it less than two weeks ago, on November 25, wedged in a root wad cranny.⁣ ⁣ #intertidal #pnw #OregonCoast #OregonShores #BeachNaturalist #beachcombing #driftline #wrackline #tideline #fbf⁣ ⁣ And the answer is…⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ Pearl River Bridge Sesame Oil. Based in China, PRB is an exporter specializing in soy sauce and other sauces and oils.
Traversing a sand-filled pool⁣ ⁣ Notes on Names: There are a few yellow nudibranchs on our shores. This one’s Doris montereyensis, the Monterey sea lemon, or so I say. ⁣ ⁣ Notes on Orientation: Its head is pointing to the upper left. You’ll notice two cone-shaped projections on the head. Those are rhinophores. They’re chemosensory. Frilly gills decorate the hind parts. In this posture, not really speed racing pasture, more like ambling posture, the specimen featured here is about 7 cm (2.8 in) long.⁣ ⁣ Notes on Zones: This is a shallow low pool.⁣ ⁣ Natural History Notes: In the exposed intertidal, sea lemons usually stick to the rocks. It’s not exceedingly unusual to see an explorer, but still, what’s it doing out and about in the early morning hours?⁣ ⁣ August 1, 2019⁣ ⁣ #intertidal #pnw #intertidal #OregonCoast #OregonShores #BeachNaturalist #tidepools #tbt
Catching up with a friend⁣ ⁣ I first noticed this large stump in July, 2010. We’ve been meeting up once in a while since then. It’s a wonder eight years of winter storms haven’t budged it. Standing tall, it’s the sole landmark on its strand.⁣ ⁣ Notes on Zones: Judging zones on sandy beaches is a challenge. I’ve learned it takes a high tide and decent surf to wet the the stump. High intertidal is the right call. On this day, one of those with a very high spring tide, the surf was modest. At the top of the tide, the highest run up the beach just kissed the base of the backshore (upper left).⁣ ⁣ Natural History Notes: There used to be a sprinkling of barnacles on the stump’s lower reaches. That portion is now buried. If the winter surf exerts itself, much more of the stump will become exposed. If not, sand will accumulate, leaving only the tip visible. The story of sand accumulation and loss is one of the best on the beach.⁣ ⁣ November 25, 2019⁣ ⁣ #intertidal #pnw #intertidal #OregonCoast #OregonShores #BeachNaturalist #beachcombing #driftline #wrackline #tideline #orkingtides #fbf
Companions⁣ ⁣ This drifted pair harmonizes well with the unblemished sand and the weather just offshore.⁣ ⁣ #intertidal #pnw #intertidal #OregonCoast #OregonShores #BeachNaturalist #beachcombing #driftline #wrackline #tideline
A Mazzaella among many⁣ ⁣ Notes on Names: There are a few species of Mazzaella on Pacific Northwest shores. This one is Mazzaella parksii, horn-of-plenty or frilly turf⁣ ⁣ Notes on Zones: Look for M. parksii on surf exposed high intertidal rocks, just above the mussels. Its frequent companions are Fucus, Pelvetiopsis, and Endocladia.⁣ ⁣ Natural History Notes: M. parksii is a red that superficially isn’t red. The base of the blades, however, are deep purplish-red. ⁣ ⁣ Flashing back to May 20, 2019⁣ ⁣ #intertidal #pnw #intertidal #OregonCoast #OregonShores #BeachNaturalist #tidepools #seaweed #algae #fbf
Bull kelp hosts its treasures. ⁣ ⁣ Notes on Names: Here a delicate red epiphyte has washed ashore on its drifted host, bull kelp, Nereocystis luetkeana. I’m not at all certain what it is. Superficially, it has has the look of red sea or hooked skein, Antithamnionella, but there are alternatives.⁣ ⁣ Natural History Notes: Whatever it is, it’s a fairly common epiphyte on drifted bull kelp stipes. If you know what it is, please let me know.⁣ ⁣ #intertidal #pnw #intertidal #OregonCoast #OregonShores #BeachNaturalist #seaweed #algae #beachcombing #driftline #wrackline #tideline #tbt
Matching its background⁣ ⁣ Notes on Names: This well-camouflaged isopod is Pentidotea. There is a decent chance it’s the rockweed isopod, P. wosnesenskii, but I can’t promise. Do you recognize the background?⁣ ⁣ Notes on Zones: The background is Ulva (all the green), looking good in the high to mid intertidal.⁣ ⁣ Natural History Notes: This small patch of Ulva was home to several Pentidotea. Most of them were dark green, like the one shown. A couple were greenish-yellow, a hue that didn’t match as well.⁣ ⁣ Flashing back to August 19, 2019 | Galiano Island, BC, Canada⁣ ⁣ #intertidal #pnw #intertidal #tidepools #SalishSea #GalianoIsland #BeachNaturalist #fbf
Looks rubbery, and it is⁣ ⁣ Notes on Names: This is hairy seaweed, Cumagloia andersonii, one of those reds. ⁣ ⁣ Notes on Zones: High to mid intertidal.⁣ ⁣ Natural History Notes: Cumagloia is at home draped over down-sloping rocks and overhangs. When the stalks are in good shape, as these are, they are supple and elastic.⁣ ⁣ Throwing back to June 4, 2019 | Central Oregon coast⁣ ⁣ #intertidal #pnw #intertidal #OregonCoast #OregonShores #BeachNaturalist #tidepool #seaweed #algae #tbt
Throwing back to that sculptured remnant⁣ ⁣ Notes On Names: This bleached empty shell belongs to Leukoma staminea, the Pacific littleneck, or locally, rock cockle. Some reds made their way into the scene as well. Across the top, Plocamium. Bottom left of the littleneck, how about that bumpy crustose red? That’s Lithothamnion, or something looking the part. Over in the lower right corner, Corallina.⁣ ⁣ Notes on Zones: Pacific littlenecks live just below surface in the mid intertidal and lower. Where did this drifted seashell come to rest? Judging by the assemblage of reds, I’d say mid to low intertidal.⁣ ⁣ June 4, 2019⁣ ⁣ #intertidal #pnw #OregonCoast #OregonShores #BeachNaturalist #tidepool #beaches #PacificShells #bivalves #beachcombing #driftline #wrackline #tideline #fbf
Said to be luminous, I’m going to agree with that.⁣ ⁣ Notes on Names: This is the lovely moonglow anemone, Anthopleura artemisia. The slender tentacles sometimes have white bands. ⁣ ⁣ Notes on Zones: Not much to go on here. Besides the moonglow, just some Ulva and Fucus. The little tidepool is filled with seashell fragments. I’ll call this mid intertidal.⁣ ⁣ Natural History Notes: Moonglows like a little sand or seashell burial. It’s not a surprise they also go by burying or buried green anemone. I’ll take moonglow any time. One happy moonglow oddity is it’s fairly common to come across individuals with bright orange tentacles.⁣ ⁣ August 19, 2019⁣ ⁣ #intertidal #pnw #intertidal #tidepools #SalishSea #GalianoIsland #BeachNaturalist #anthopleura #tbt

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