The crows and gulls weren’t complaining. They didn’t ask what subtidal force mobilized such a large quantity of fresh material. High tide left a drift line littered with macroalgal debris. Drizzle and a chilly south wind made gloomy conditions for foraging and beachcombing.
I didn’t notice the shine until I looked through the photos of my finds from the day. Brown algae have smooth blades that shine even when the sun doesn’t. Below are six species, each with their own shine.
Pterygophora californica also goes by old growth, walking, or woody-stemmed kelp
Strap kelp, Lessoniopsis littoralis
Winged kelp, Alaria marginata
A mystery brown with shiny blistered blades
Pterygophora californica showing off its sporophylls
Sea cabbage, Saccharina sessilis
The only Shine on feather boa is the gas-filled pneumatocyst (center just below the stipe)
The September 23, 2016 drift line was diverse. If you want to see more browns and other low intertidal and subtidal algae, plants, and animals from this unusual beach cast event, click on Wrack Line 2016.
theoutershores 
Great Photo’s, it’s neat when you get home and see what it is exactly that you’ve captured! Another storm coming..get ready for more! 🙂 T.
Thanks! You’re right, it has happened a few times. Sometimes a worm or baby starfish I didn’t notice, or even a seascape shot that is better than I imagined. See you on the drift line.
Back at ya! 🙂
Another informative and beautiful touch in all your posts and adventures Steve!
Thanks Terri! And thanks so much for taking time to say such nice words.