Langley September 24, 2019.
Langley Harbor was the place on Whidbey Island where sea stars were present in large numbers, even during the height of the wasting episode.
But instead of thousands spread out in the large area of seawall, tire reef, rock piles and sandy plain with a floating dock above, supplying a plenty of food in the form of mussels raining down to the delight of crabs and some sea stars, I am guessing the count is down to hundreds.
Mottled stars being hit most noticeably. Ochre stars too are present in much lesser numbers. Leather stars are now present here in larger numbers that ever, they were really scarce here in the past.
The water data from nearby Penn Cove Mussel Farm are not updated since August 5th. I think the pictures from the three localities in span of few months show how much different the harbor now looks, as far as the sea star population is concerned. I still find few baby stars here and there, but overall, it is depressing. Not a single Sunflower star found. Wasting syndrome still present. :(
