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, April 25, 2023
The rest of the pixels.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Deception Pass, April 27, 2023.
What sweet current/tide cycles we had the last few days.
There was no current on my one hour long dive to speak of.
Visibility was good too once I got away from the shallows close to the point of entry.
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Gdog
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Gdog »

Great work Jan!
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Gdog wrote: Mon May 01, 2023 11:40 pmGreat work Jan!
Thank you.

Deception Pass, April 27, 2023
East side of the bridge, where the Northern featherduster worms swallow the light output of my strobe... :)🤣
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Deception Pass, April 27, 2023
And the rest of the pixels.
It was nice to see the Bull kelp finally rise in the shallows...
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Keystone Jetty, April 30, 2023
Visibility not that good... The Spring bloom is upon us.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Langley Harbor, May 2, 2023
Sunflower stars doing well, not any real large adults yet, but hopefully soon we will see some old enough to spawn...
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Langley Harbor, May 2, 2023
Horned nudibranch gathering.
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Possession Point Fingers, May 4, 2023 dive.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Possession Point Fingers, May 4, 2023 dive.
Few more pixels...
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eh.haole
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by eh.haole »

That single I-beam stub looks like a gold mine for critter habitat. What are the chances of getting a lot more of that kind of thing installed somewhere convenient?

Just imagine if one of those huge tankers in the 'harbor' went down [empty of all contaminants, fuel and oil, of course!]
Now that would be some habitat!
Jan K wrote: Sat May 06, 2023 9:07 am Langley Harbor, May 2, 2023
Horned nudibranch gathering.
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Driftwood Pond #2, May 6, 2023
Visit the Twilight Zone ...
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Driftwood Pond # 2. May 6, 2023
The rest of pixels...
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Driftwood Park, May 8, 2023
From the ponds it is just a short distance to climb over some driftwood and walk down to the beach with wide open Admiralty Inlet, part of the Salish Sea waters.
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Holmes Harbor, May 10, 2023
Diving into the murky waters just for the sake to see if I can find something interesting. The water is filled with planktonic soup, as expected to be found every Spring. Well, to my surprise, many Sunflower stars were found, either cruising on the sandy plain or tucked on or near the bottom kelp. They measured from the juvenile 3 inches to near adult sizes...
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Holmes Harbor, May 10, 2023
The rest of pixels from the plankton soup :)
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Deception Pass, May 12, 2023
I had the pleasure to meet a diver legend Bruce Higgins of Edmonds Underwater Park fame. He is the powerhouse behind the underwater trail system there. Nice weather above, nice views down below.
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Deception Pass, May 12, 2023
Looking over the calm waters of Little North Beach, I noticed a dark ribbon in the very shallows.
Upon a closer look, I realized that it is created by a school of small fish.
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Keystone Jetty, May 15, 2023 dive.
Scalyhead sculpin, Fred the Fourth, now occupying the barnacle castle on Rock of Life already has three clusters of eggs to guard.
The future of the Fred dynasty is in good fins... 🤣
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Possession Point Fingers, May 17, 2023 dive.
Many Copper, few Brown rockfish pregnant, none of the Black rockfish.
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Langley Harbor, May 19, 2023 dive.
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Langley Harbor, May 19, 2023
Plenty of Sunflower stars, even though small ones, grace the underwater scene. They are still missing in all other sites on western side of Whidbey Island. Saratoga Passage seems to be the only place they are encountered in larger numbers.
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Driftwood Park Pond #1, May 23, 2023.
Moon and Water jellies, Sticklebacks and rotting driftwood...
One big surprise - Mottled sea star !
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

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Deception Pass, May 26, 2023.
Another round of favorable currents.
Only two of us diving, enjoying the wonderful weather above ...
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Jan K
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Re: Whidbey Island Critters

Post by Jan K »

Deception Pass, May 26, 2023.
The rest of the pixels...
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