2019 wrackline was full of drifted treasures. Some had human origins, others arrived from rocky intertidal, subtidal, pelagic, estuarine, and terrestrial sources. Unravelling the stories of marine drifters, at least trying to, is irresistible. Most of their stories will remain mysteries. That’s what keeps beachcombing compelling. Arranged chronologically below, starting with memories from last winter at the top, to recent scenes from a few days ago at the bottom, is a sampling of drifted discoveries that caught my attention in 2019. All these are from northern Oregon, unless noted otherwise in the caption.
It wouldn’t be winter without drift bull kelp Couldn’t be farther from the real thing The golden hour Mermaid’s purse | big skate egg case Cockle, Clinocardium nuttallii Big wood at the base of the backshore shelf | vegetated foredune beyond Why is decay so captivating? My view through drifted timber My pack on the backshore, hanging around Nucella eggs on a drifted mussel shell Eccentric sand dollar Redtail surfperch | the gulls are going to feast Shark tooth | a rarity Lost Dungeness crab trap Race ends in a low intertidal boulder field Bull kelp There’s a little fire on the inside Surfgrass Remains of maritime Sitka spruce and bull kelp forests meet in the intertidal Drift Sargassum Dreamy Macrocystis Eelgrass, Zostera Drifted ostrich plume hydroid California mussel (left), flat-tip piddock (right) A curious wrack line find Every lost float has a story Remnants Soranthera ulvoidea, an epiphyte on reds like black pine, Neorhodomela I have questions Wrackline window A lovely drifted tellin Crystal jelly, Aequorea Pacific rock crab, Romaleon antennarium California beach hoppers, Megalorchestia californiana Cymatogaster aggregata | Galiano Island Frilled dogwinkle egg cases, Nucella lamellosa, probably Moon jelly Drifted Dungeness Companions Sea nettle An acquaintance of mine Fat gaper, Tresus capax Drifted timber, up on the backshore
That’s a look at the 2019 wrackline. If you want to see more floats and buoys, drift algae, carcasses, bottles, driftline inhabitants, and other beached drifters, take a stroll through Wrack Line 2019 or any of my Wrack Line pages.
I never cease to be transfixed by the crystalline clarity of your macro-images, which make it easy to appreciate the interest or beauty to be found in what you portray. A great gallery of memories.
Your comment got me thinking, I wonder if it’s just about getting close, or how the shots are framed? Anyway, you, for sure, have a knack for framing. Thanks, Margaret
Thank you! In your case, I think it’s both. But the intensity of your gaze at your subject, combined, I imagine, with a cracking camera creates images which invite close inspection.
How great these images look all together on one page! It’s because of this blog that I’ve started paying attention to the drift line and I too have found a few toys. Once when I was purposely looking at the drift line for an interesting photo subject, some people approached and asked if I’d lost something…
Such a good story, Trish. Thanks. I haven’t experienced that exactly, but on a few occasions I’ve been crouched down, or even on my belly, concentrating on a shot of some drifted item, only to be startled by a wet nose on my face from a curious off-leash dog. Kind of similar?
Love every single image (including that rather racy cowgirl!!) So many items that are familiar, quite a few searching for the names you provide. But your images are presented so beautifully.
Thank you for the walk of your memories! Beautifully captured. I certainly have learn to appreciate the beauty of nature by the shore from you. Thank you so much for that.