Critters in Crevices

Today, we went on a walk to a remote beach area. Not an easy place to get to, because you can only get there via a very steep path. Also, it helps to have a friend who knows the way. We are very lucky to have just such a friend. She knows who she is...


And of course, this very long way down to the beach meant that when it's time to go home, it's a long long way up. And up some more... But it was worthwhile. Be still, my little heart. The payoff is a beautiful West Coast beach, complete with a lot of washed up lumber, an actual "beach" with sand, rocky outcrops and tidepools that reveal all kinds of interesting life forms, for those of us who are curious and childlike... And willing to peer in holes and crevices, to take a look at some creatures up close and personal.



Allow me to introduce you to the gumboot chiton, the largest chiton out there, apparently.

Below, a belly shot of the creature...

We put him back exactly where we found him...

And in another crevice, we found the lovely Black Katy chiton

And when you say tidepool, you say anemones. There were plenty of those around today, but because we were visiting at very low tide, most of the ones we found were closed for business. When anemones close up, they look like big lumps of gooey stuff... like this group below.

But we did find a tidepool with some anemones open for business, looking for lunch (to enlarge the image, click on the picture):

Lesson learned: it pays to be curious and to look in holes and crevices when you are wandering on the beach and on rocky outcrops.

More pictures from that outing tomorrow. Stay tuned.