This year the drift was full of treasures. Some had human origins. Others were from rocky intertidal, subtidal, pelagic, estuarine, and terrestrial sources. Unravelling their stories, or trying to, is an irresistible challenge. Yet, every year there are some that remain mysteries. Below, arranged chronologically, from the distant memories of last winter at the top, to recent scenes from last month at the bottom, are drifted discoveries that caught my attention in 2017.
High tides and big surf mobilize drift logs
Crab buoy #47823
Hagfish trap funnel
Rough keyhole limpet Diodora aspera
Probably from a squid boat
Glow stick, offshore fishing gear
If you know what this is, drop me a line
Rock scallop, Crassadoma gigantea, top view
Sea oats, probably, Nucella lamellosa eggs
Purple-striped jelly, Chrysaora colorata; uncommon on northern Oregon beaches
Rock scallop, Crassadoma gigantea – inner surface
Consensus chum parr, tossed ashore in the surf
Newly beached Velella velella
Delicate epiphytes on a bull kelp stipe
Fish tub
Drift line loaded with Velella
Whitewater helmet
Drift line dominated by spruce needles
Ever seen a sand dollar show?
Drift Macrocystis
Inscrutable Olivella biplicata
Gulls usually find these before I do
Drift surfgrass, Phyllospadix
Beached drifters
Metacarcinus magister, always feisty
Laminaria sinclairii; red epiphytes on the tips
Lost buoy #353
Show, razor clam, Siliqua patula
Common murre
Drift Fucus
A spade without its child
Beach hopper
Fresh feather boa, Egregia menziesii
Beach hoppers love a drift feather boa
Drift line detail
Drift Postelsia palmaeformis
Nuttall’s cockle, Clinocardium nuttallii
Holdfasts are a reliable source of new material on the beach; here other macroalgae and a good-sized barnacle
It’s going to take a high tide and big swell to move this one
Razor clam, Siliqua patula
Drift bull kelp
Lost line, pyrosomes
Material from several ecosystems in the drift line
Pyrosome, surfgrass
That’s a view from the 2017 wrack line though my eyes. It’s just a sample. If you want to see more floats and buoys, drift algae, carcasses, bottles, drift line inhabitants, and other beached drifters, browse through Wrack Line 2017 or any of my Wrack Line pages.
An amazing selection! Shame on us humans for leaving stuff behind. Hopefully 2018 will make us more aware of our use of plastics.I am starting to make more of an effort.
There has to be an interesting story behind that helmet. Wonder what it is…
Wonderful Photo’s and interesting subjects!
I must admit that dead birds (and other corpses) severely hit my look-away trigger, but the rest is fascinating. I’ve got just a beach for you, here in southern Tuscany: 12 km of sand in a nature reserve, so not many facilities. If you’re curious, have a look at my (only) beach-combing post back on my first blog (but after seeing your photos, these are terrible. :D):
https://manjamaksimovic.wordpress.com/2014/11/26/what-the-sea-brings-home-to-play-with/
Thanks for the tip about your fine beach in southern Tuscany. I love a long sandy beach. Your finds look familiar, and some, the little blue by-the-wind sailors, Velella velella, wash ashore on Oregon beaches too. I’m sympathetic with the look-away effect of some of the images i posted. I’m glad it didn’t keep you from sharing your post and giving me the opportunity to see the beach through your eyes.