Whidbey Island Critters

Fish & Invertebrate sightings and descriptions, hosted by resident NWDC ID expert Janna Nichols (nwscubamom).
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Checking out marine life under the dock at Lagoon Point.
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Lagoon Point muck dive. Twelve different slugs in the small area around the docks plus a land slug on the shore.
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Skyline Wall dive. Almost summer-like weather above, Spring colors below...
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Last edited by Jan K on Tue Mar 26, 2019 8:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Some of the Skyline critters ...
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Interesting past couple weeks diving in the waters of Possession Point. On March 10th I came across a very small, less than quarter inch across anemone with a pattern I never seen before. So I took picture of it and continued my dive. Back home, I tried to find it in my marine life guide books, but could not find a match. I turned to internet, no help there. So I contacted the few experts I knew were much more knowledgeable than me, but they have not seen it neither. They would like to see more of the anemone, especially the side view of the column. Some suggested it might even be a new species! That got my attention. In the following week I spend four dives looking for the critter, with no luck. Finally on the fifth dive I found another one, slightly larger one, and managed to get a better picture. The white markings on the anemone's body helped to identify it as a juvenile Sand Rose anemone.
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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During the search for the mystery anemone, I came across others which took time to identify.
Juveniles don't alway look like their parents ... :)
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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In all these years, I have seen hundreds, thousands of the Creeping Pedal cucumbers. Took pictures of them many times, open, closed, upside down. But only when I was looking for the mystery anemone and looking close at ALL the small critters, I found a close relative to the Psolus chitonoides, the Pale Creeping Pedal sea cucumber - Psolidium bidiscum. Adding another species to my Pacific Northwest critter list. :)
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by oldsalt »

Congratulations on another new species. Since you have been at it for so long and so thoroughly, it has become rare for you to see something new. I just realized I saw some additional new species of birds on my recent trip to the Gapalagos and Peru's Palamino Islands. In reviewing my photos, I found additional birds in each place. Something catches my attention, penguins, frigatebirds, boobies... and I overlook something equally as marvelous. I also recognize that most divers would not be familiar with the creeping pedal sea cucumber, much less its kin. good job.
-Curt :rawlings:
Happy to be alive.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Thank you Curt.

Shrimp and slug from the Possession Point Finger clay wall apartments :)
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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The gates to Deception Pass, Little North Beach parking lot are open. And lots and lots of divers took advantage of sunny weather and small tidal exchange. Nevertheless, the currents were there too. Maya joins me for dive, temperature shock for her, her last dive was in 84 degrees Bligh Water in Fiji. Deception Pass greeted her with 46. :) :)
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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This weekend was the Grand Opening of Deception Pass for the shore divers. And to greet them, the marine life put on festive colors, just for the occasion. To prove the point I included photo I took in January. Notice that the Funnel sponge next to a dying Tan Finger sponge were the only interesting features on the scene. And look at the bottom shot. Although only small pile of debris left from the dying Finger sponge, the Funnel grew larger and Red Sea Cucumbers appeared from nowhere to spruce the Spring scenery. Enjoy ! :)
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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More from my two days at Deception Pass gardens...
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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April 2, 2019. Swimming with the fishes in Langley Harbor.
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Spring is in the air. And in the water :)
As do the plants above load their flowers with pollen, the anemones beneath the waves release theirs in hopes to propagate. Curious California cucumber is checking out what is this all about, probably ready to join the movement :)
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Few more from Possession Point Fingers dive
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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The other day, diving at Driftwood Park, young Wolf-eel showed me his home. I was not impressed...
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Red Sea Cucumber. Well, sometimes they are not red. Baby seems to be yellow, but I did find an adult who obviously liked it and stayed yellow. :)
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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April 11th. Gray and drizzly day at Skyline. For color, dive in :)
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Saturday the 13th, Deception Pass. It rained and the winds blew hard as divers from all around descended on the Little North Beach, which is well sheltered from the southerly winds. Note, after the dive, we are all smiling. Another beautiful day, regardless of the weather above...
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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April 14th. Another dive at Deception Pass? Yup, the number of divers was smaller, but the scenery does not get boring. So much to see... Here is the Sunday dive gang . :)
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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The conditions for wide angle were not the best, but here are some of the divers I "bumped into" in the rather murky waters of Deception Pass on Saturday. And closer look at some of the DP critters...
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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There are still some open questions about the nudibranch I found at Possession Point Fingers. To help clarify the true identity of this tiny slug, I was asked to collect specimen and send it to the experts in California Academy of Sciences. I am sure curious about the outcome of this search...
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Another dive at Possession Point Fingers. The mystery slugs are gone, the hydroids they fed on are covered with some kind of slime. Other slugs taking their place, old Warty Flabellina got a new scientific name Coryphella. I like the old Flabellina better. But that is the new reality, progress in DNA is making mess with my old files and guide books. It is harder and harder to keep up...
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Waning moon provided us with another chance to dive Deception Pass. Six of us gathered on its shore early Friday morning and we dove into the current. And after the dive, the customary picture was taken... :)
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