Whidbey Island Critters

[Jan K]

Adding new worm to the list:

[Jan K]

Laying eggs by the dozen

[Jan K]

The dying is intensifying :(

[Desert Diver]

Jan, Is that the water temp? Seems warmer than I've seen??? Or does it get to that temperature in those areas this time of year?

Brian

[Jan K]

Jan, Is that the water temp? Seems warmer than I've seen??? Or does it get to that temperature in those areas this time of year? Brian

Yes, Brain, it is the water temperature, and it is climbing which doesn't bode well for the sea stars.
When it reaches 59 F then the die off will be really fast... :(

[LCF]

I was really happy to do a dive at Saltwater on Friday and see some healthy-appearing, albeit small, sunflower stars. Maybe where you are is just late to begin the cycle?

[Desert Diver]

Lynn, What water temperatures were you seeing at Saltwater?

[LCF]

We had two computers registering 51, both of which belong to folks who believe they tend to read high. My forehead was saying high 40's.

[Jan K]

Mottled stars seem to be tougher - no wasting at Coupeville

[Jan K]

The "I did not see it when I took the picture" category

[LCF]

It's so good to see a photo full of colorful sea stars! I didn't realize how much they add to our underwater landscapes, until they were gone.

[Jan K]

Tunicates at Keystone, peekaboo .

[Jan K]

Male trying to convince the female to lay her eggs in his territory.
Wriggling and swimming from one side of her to the other.
Did not happen while I was there ...

[Jan K]

Penpoint gunnel in a difficult position ...

[LCF]

Poor little gunnel!

I love the photos of the mating greenlings. The first time I ever saw a male in mating colors was at Maury Island, and he was doing the wriggle dance, too. It was fascinating to watch.

[Jan K]

Look what came out from a small, broken bottle

[Jan K]

Wasting Syndrome update - end of May

[Jan K]

Who wants to be next ?

[Marek Sk]

Regarding: “Star Wasting Syndrome”

It is a first time I see any critter got interest in consuming the affected sunflower stars. Before I could see no critter even close to deteriorating stars until recent dives in Driftwood Park.
It seems like a large party of Hermit Crabs swarmed several affected stars. Eating frenzy ? I took a picture of one and posted it. This one seem to be attacked at thinning stage while other were more in pieces (more advanced deterioration).
So maybe a Nature finally finds its way how to recycle the energy of Sunflower Stars and it is not a "total waste".
Picture posted at:
“Moved from Whidbey Island Critters - in footsteps of Jan K”
http://www.nwdiveclub.com/viewtopic.php ... 04#p255104

Regarding: “Driftwood Park” and “Wolf Eels”[
Jan posted earlier a picture of Wolf Eel coming out if the bottle in Driftwood Park. For anyone who wants to see Wolf Eels in the open, hiding in the toilets or sticking part of the body out of tires or old wheels, this park is a real treasure. I have seen many Wolf Eels on every dive I dove there.
You can find the pictures and the report about unusual critter behavior in the same report:
“Moved from Whidbey Island Critters - in footsteps of Jan K”
http://www.nwdiveclub.com/viewtopic.php ... 04#p255104

Thank you Jan for showing us the Magical Treasures of Whidbey Island, pioneering the Whidbey Island exploration and creating an easy path to follow for all of us and finally inspiring us to share our pictures and observations.

[Jan K]

I have seen Red and Dungeness crabs, also Buffalo sculpin. Still collecting images for a page on the subject.
Meanwhile, back to the muck diving and its inhabitants

[Jan K]

All you can eat shrimp ...

[Jan K]

First week of June sea star surveys on Whidbey.
Some localities are holding up well, and others not so well. Looks like the Wasting Syndrome is here to stay :(

[Jan K]

Great dive on Saturday :

[Tom Nic]

Best pictures I've ever seen of the ferry. Thank you.

[Jan K]

Tom, thank you, it helps when the visibility is good