Whidbey Island Critters

Fish & Invertebrate sightings and descriptions, hosted by resident NWDC ID expert Janna Nichols (nwscubamom).
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5248
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Slowly testing the waters for diving again. Beautiful sunny day at Keystone, except for focusing light not working and strobes intermittent firing issues, it was good to swim with the fishes again. :)
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5248
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

After almost two months, I dived at Langley Harbor again and the welcoming party of rockfish, perch and gunnels made my day ! Whitespotted greenling was fending off tirelessly potential predators of eggs it was guarding. Mostly Copper rockfish followed me around at the tire reef as if they knew how much I enjoy their company. The gunnels were not as numerous as in the past years, but still fun to watch them peering from their hiding place.
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
H20doctor
I've Got Gills
Posts: 4225
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:13 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by H20doctor »

wow .... great Pictures Jan.... i miss Langley tire reef
NWDC Rule #2 Pictures Or it didn't Happen
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5248
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Sea star surveys, November 2018
Since I got that nasty cold, my dives were few in the last two months. The stars are still wasting here and there, Langley Harbor is the only place on Whidbey where they are still numerous, except for the Sunflower stars ...
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5248
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Possession Point Fingers.
Fall colors underwater. Autumn Bull Kelp and more ...
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5248
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Coupeville Wharf, Penn Cove, Whidbey Island. The decline in numbers of sea stars continues...
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5248
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Keystone Jetty Sunday. Besides meeting with friends, highlight of my dive was the encounter with Lingcod and its cleaner, Scalyhead sculpin. I had chance to see Lingcod being cleaned by sculpins many times before, but this time, the little fish inside the cavernous mouth ignored me completely and even came to take a look at me. I even took a selfie... :) :)
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Gdog
NWDC Moderator
NWDC Moderator
Posts: 3984
Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:41 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Gdog »

Jan that is epic, love those photos! Crazy how the underwater world ecosystem relies on all residents!
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5248
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Thanks Gdog.
Few more from Sunday Keystone Jetty.
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5248
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Driftwood Park dive
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5248
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

The Stones are coming, the Warbonnets are here ... :)
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Tom Nic
I've Got Gills
Posts: 9368
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:26 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Tom Nic »

And just when ya thought it couldn't get more epic.... Jan - "Hold my 'pencils'!"
More Pics Than You Have Time To Look AT
"Anyone who thinks this place is over moderated is bat-crazy anarchist." -Ben, Airsix
"Warning: No dive masters are going to be there, Just a bunch of old fat guys taking pictures of fish." -Bassman
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5248
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Thanks Tom :)

Red Irish Lord guarding eggs in Langley Harbor. In spite of its name, not easy to spot in the green underwater world.
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
oldsalt
I've Got Gills
Posts: 1061
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2010 9:02 am

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by oldsalt »

The color specific name leads us astray, since they are capable of changing their color to match their surroundings. This fish does not want to be found.
-Curt :rawlings:
Happy to be alive.
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5248
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Kelp Greenling. One of the few local fish you can easily tell which one is a male and which is the female.
And now, their eggs are showing up all over Keystone Jetty ...
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5248
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Keystone Jetty. It is getting harder to walk down to the water :(
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5248
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Jan Kocian What a difference six years make. Keystone beach January 7, 2012
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5248
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

It used to be a dilemma in using common name for the critters we encounter and photograph. For example: Noble or Lemon ?
Now a new game, " Name That Nudibranch", aka" If it is on the Internet, it Must Be True" spilled into the scientific arena.
So lets join the crowd of the confused ... :)
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5248
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Possession Point Fingers dive begins with a dock cart load down the forest road (easy) and ends with pushing that cart uphill after the dive. Not so easy... But the rewards are worth it.
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5248
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Some of the fish calling Possession Point Fingers home.
The season for Buffalo sculpin and Red Irish Lord egg laying is approaching...
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5248
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

In case you didn't know or notice, it is windy up here ...
Inside the Point Defiance aquarium, it is so much easier to take pictures of fish... No wind, no waves and one can stay nice and warm :)
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Tom Nic
I've Got Gills
Posts: 9368
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:26 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Tom Nic »

Solid Choice!

Yikes! I'm guessing not the best conditions for my first "experiencing Keystone" dives!!!
More Pics Than You Have Time To Look AT
"Anyone who thinks this place is over moderated is bat-crazy anarchist." -Ben, Airsix
"Warning: No dive masters are going to be there, Just a bunch of old fat guys taking pictures of fish." -Bassman
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5248
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Few sponges and slugs from Possession Point Fingers
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5248
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Another dive at Possession Point Fingers. Maybe the exercise of pushing the cart down and up the forest road does have some benefits, I feel OK :)
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
User avatar
Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5248
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

At Possession Point Fingers, the Red Irish Lords are guarding the next generation en masse.
The Buffalo sculpins can't be far behind, if local history is any indicator.
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
Post Reply