Whidbey Island Critters
- Penopolypants
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Is that a sculpin hiding in the white anenomes?Jan K wrote:
S'Mike
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters
It is a Painted Greenling ...smike wrote: Is that a sculpin hiding in the white anenomes? S'Mike
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Feeling little crabby? Go diving - find a kindred heart
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
The first heart crab I ever found was at Keystone -- He was down in the bottom among the pebbles, and initially impossible to see. Had he had the courage of his convictions and stayed put as I swam over him, I would never have seen him at all.
I really like the lithodid crabs. They look prehistoric.
I really like the lithodid crabs. They look prehistoric.
"Sometimes, when your world is going sideways, the second best thing to everything working out right, is knowing you are loved..." ljjames
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
The first heart crab I ever saw was in the pilings at Keystone. They really are neat critters. Puget Sound King Crabs are still my favorite though - golf-ball crabs are second, and heart crabs third. Fourth would be decorator crabs. Alright - I guess the truth is that they're all really really cool!
“When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” -- John Muir
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Deception Pass walls have hundreds of them in places, the currents bringing them lots of food..
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
I learn something new each time I view your thread
Thanks Jan for all this interesting info
Thanks Jan for all this interesting info
http://dustys-lights.com/, An awesome light at an unbelievably low price
Dusty's Lights on facebook
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Dusty's Lights on facebook
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters
While searching for new diving destinations around Whidbey, we visited a small tire reef in Saratoga Passage established as a fish haven some thirty years ago. Although I did not find any new critters to add to my collection, I did find a nudibranch behavior I did not see before. The Striped Nudibranch - (Armina californica) which is found crawling on the sea floor in search of Sea pens or is buried in sand the rest of time, was floating through midwater suspended on string of mucus, it did not wriggle or move, looked quite relaxed and as if this was normal way to move a great distance without much effort. There were no Sea pens I could see anywhere around. I have no idea how the Armina managed to get up into the water column. It would be interesting to see if anybody else sees it too, so guys keep your eyes on floaters and let me know ...book:
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Jan, I absolutely love your posts - art and education every time!
-Ben
ps - Not to distract from your art, but that is a SWEET looking boat! I've never seen a dive boat with a bow ramp. That looks awesome .
-Ben
ps - Not to distract from your art, but that is a SWEET looking boat! I've never seen a dive boat with a bow ramp. That looks awesome .
"The place looked like a washing machine full of Josh's carharts. I was not into it." --Sockmonkey
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
I agree, Ben, SWEET boat, soooo easy to dive from. I found dive buddy with boat and passion to explore,
what a combination...
Back to critters. This weekend we had some great conditions as far as currents were concerned.
I did a shore dive from the North Beach to my favored Deception Pass walls which are just an
explosion of colors... Visibility wasn't as good as was two weeks ago, but plenty of stuff for macro.
I found that even the Cabezon was wearing some of the pink to color coordinate with local decor -
the Proliferating anemones..
what a combination...
Back to critters. This weekend we had some great conditions as far as currents were concerned.
I did a shore dive from the North Beach to my favored Deception Pass walls which are just an
explosion of colors... Visibility wasn't as good as was two weeks ago, but plenty of stuff for macro.
I found that even the Cabezon was wearing some of the pink to color coordinate with local decor -
the Proliferating anemones..
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Wow those anemones are bright. I saw a couple at Hudson last week but they were a nice blue/green in color
http://dustys-lights.com/, An awesome light at an unbelievably low price
Dusty's Lights on facebook
http://underthesound.smugmug.com/
Dusty's Lights on facebook
http://underthesound.smugmug.com/
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Uh, call me picky, but isn't that cabezon a red irish lord?
Dave
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"Clearly, you weren't listening to what I'm about to say."
--
Check out my Internet show:
http://www.irvingszoo.com
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
That's what I was thinking but I couldn't see close enough to say anything
http://dustys-lights.com/, An awesome light at an unbelievably low price
Dusty's Lights on facebook
http://underthesound.smugmug.com/
Dusty's Lights on facebook
http://underthesound.smugmug.com/
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
And that is what I thought when I took the photos. But when I saw on the computer screen all the cirri above eyes and snout, according to my book, I think it is Cabezon. I would rather have Red Irish Lord, since they are not common at all on my usual Whidbey sites and I have only few pictures of them... Maybe Janna can tell us what this really is
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
This is deffinatly a red irish in a very simular pose for comparison
http://dustys-lights.com/, An awesome light at an unbelievably low price
Dusty's Lights on facebook
http://underthesound.smugmug.com/
Dusty's Lights on facebook
http://underthesound.smugmug.com/
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
and more marine color from the same neighborhood
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
- Greg Jensen
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Definitely a red irish lord.
- Penopolypants
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters
I love that shot Jan!Jan K wrote:And that is what I thought when I took the photos. But when I saw on the computer screen all the cirri above eyes and snout, according to my book, I think it is Cabezon. I would rather have Red Irish Lord, since they are not common at all on my usual Whidbey sites and I have only few pictures of them... Maybe Janna can tell us what this really is
Come to the nerd side, we have pi!
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
RIL would be my guess too... almost looks like you can see the yellow dots on the eyes too.
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Thank you guys, I stand corrected. Again. Well, at least I have now more pictures of the Red Irish Lord and will easier time recognizing it. ](*,)
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Glad to help. The big tip-off for me was the doodinkles under his chin (as you can see, I'm really into technical scientific terms), which the cabezon doesn't have. The RIL does have small cirri above the eyes, but they're nowhere near as pronounced as the ones on the cabezon. The cabbie also has the rhino-type little horn thing on its nose, like this juvenile we spotted at EUP (sorry about all the backscatter):
And I agree, that RIL is in a great pose!
And I agree, that RIL is in a great pose!
Dave
"Clearly, you weren't listening to what I'm about to say."
--
Check out my Internet show:
http://www.irvingszoo.com
"Clearly, you weren't listening to what I'm about to say."
--
Check out my Internet show:
http://www.irvingszoo.com
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Thanks again.
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
Hardly. I find myself wondering again and again how to thank you for all you share of your experiences and knowledge. I'm always excited when I see a new post with your name on it, because I know I'm going to learn something. Thank you just seems so inadequate........Jan K wrote:Thanks again.
Dave
"Clearly, you weren't listening to what I'm about to say."
--
Check out my Internet show:
http://www.irvingszoo.com
"Clearly, you weren't listening to what I'm about to say."
--
Check out my Internet show:
http://www.irvingszoo.com
Re: Whidbey Island Critters
The following Monday providing us with yet another day of favorable tides and currents, I was lucky to get invited for another day of diving in the Deception Pass area. On a boat! Our first dive was off the eastern end of Strawberry Island which is just outside of Cornet Bay from where our little expedition started. The current in the pass itself was still running quite strong. My buddies already dove the west end of Strawberry Island before and were curious to explore the eastern portion, since it was not affected by the flood current. I never dove here, so it was fine with me. The underwater terrain on east end is not a wall, the slope is graduate, plenty of rocks to provide shelter and ground for marine life. I found it not as rich and colorful as the walls in Deception Pass under the bridge, but many of the same anemones, sponges and critters are present here. Visibility was not that good, only six to eight feet with lot of fine silt. The current here was not bad. I found very small yellow nudi on a hydroid which nobody yet ID-ed positively. Here are some of the critters...
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown
I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. by Unknown