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

Post by Jan K »

Skyline, Fidalgo Island. Enjoyable above and below the water.
Forest trail follows the shore where we dive.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

I am Hedgpeth's Sapsucker and I do live underwater :)
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

False Jingles. Very common, but often overlooked by underwater photographers in favor of other bivalves such as scallops, mussels and clams.
(At least I don't see many photos of them posted).
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Deception Pass. First dive in 2017. It is still my favorite site :)
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Tidepool Geek »

Hi Jan,

That 'colorizing' panel was very neat!

Question - In the areas you survey, are you seeing the number of stars (especially juveniles) growing?

Appreciatively yours,
Alex
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oldsalt
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by oldsalt »

I don't see Pycnapodia among the seastars in your shots of Deception Pass. Are they there?
-Curt
Happy to be alive.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

oldsalt wrote:I don't see Pycnapodia among the seastars in your shots of Deception Pass. Are they there?
-Curt
No, Pycnopodia is the one sea star which has the hardest time to recover. I see few juveniles at Langley, but not at Deception Pass or Possession Fingers. I found four adults at Keystone.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

If you ever wondered. Yes, slugs poop too :)
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Keystone Lingcod diaries:
January 15. Only gravid females laying along the base and on jetty rocks.
January 26. Males attacking divers, sure sign of egg nest in the vicinity.
Notice how the shape of Lingcod's head changes in the last seconds of the attack. I call it the "Cobra" mode :)
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Keystone Diaries, January 28,2017
The waters around the jetty filled with divers.
I spotted the wide open mouth which usually means that Lingcod is either asking to be cleaned or actually being cleaned by Scalyhead sculpin. I swim for closer look and to my surprise, the cleaner is not a fish, but Grainyhand hermit crab. First for me. Unfortunately the crab did not like me to look over its shoulder and started to leave the job site.
Then I came across another Lingcod who is obviously neglecting his duty as the guardian of eggs...
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Scubak »

Jan,
Your pictures and pages are absolutely wonderful.
Time for another book...
Kirsten
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Thanks,

Scallops. This what they look like before chefs get their hands on them. :)
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Smoothead sculpin at Keystone.
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

No problem finding these eggs, Wrinkled dogwinkle snails laying eggs all over the area, shallow and deep, from south to north.
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Few winter sea slugs from around the island.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Few critters from Skyline which don't move too fast. just like the traffic in Seattle on this snowy Monday...
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

More crabs in our future. Red rock crabs mother releasing hers babies at Langley Harbor
while the Northern kelp crab mama still hanging onto hers at Skyline.
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and one adult which didn't get away
and one that did :)
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Yes, it is still winter...
Another visit to Skyline and its critters. The life goes on there too.
It is a nice break from all that what is going on topside :)
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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And the Wrinkled dogwinkle snails moved on, leaving behind their eggs.
Lots of eggs...
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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It could give the Painted anemone indigestion ...
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Longfin sculpin male whispering "sweet nothings" to a starry-eyed female at Keystone Jetty.
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY ! :)
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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White dendronotus in the currents of Keystone Jetty.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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More from February dives at Keystone Jetty .
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Couple slugs from Langley Harbor.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

For those who cannot dive to see the slugs underwater:
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