Tag Archives: tide pooling

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John and Nicole Forte went tide pooling off Navigtor's Beach on The Sea Ranch. They spotted this small octopus, who's common name is Ruby Octopus or Pacific Red Octopus.

The Ruby Octopus is thought to be very intelligent, like most octopuses. They have distinctive personalities. Like all octopuses, they can change color and texture. What an amazing little octopus John and Nicole found.

Thanks to John for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

We are having minus tides in the afternoon now, a perfect time to find a tide pool to explore!

Today we are having the calm after the storm. It's cool but absolutely beautiful. Tree Mercer tells me she and Scott are seeing lots of Gray Whales swimming northward today.

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All Nudibranchs are beautifully colored, but this is a new one for me. Liam Ericson found this Nudibranch off the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands.

Robert Van Syoc took a look at Liam's photo. He wrote, “It’s Anisodoris nobilis, sometimes called the Sea Lemon. They feed on sponges and repurpose noxious chemicals in the sponge tissue as their own defense against predation. They taste bad to fish! The bright showy coloration of most nudibranchs evolved as warning coloration to predators.”

The Sea Lemon, so bright yellow, has a white flower on one end - a nice touch by Mother Nature.

Thanks to Liam for allowing me to share his photo with  you here and Bob for sharing his expertise.

Waiting for another storm to come in later tonight. Not a big one, but we always welcome the wet stuff.

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At a recent low tide, Catherine Miller found lots of beautiful animals living in the intertidal zone. Sea Anemones and Ochre Sea Stars are living jewels.

The next King Tides are Dec. 13 to 15. Look for the super low tides that come with this event and head for a beach near you!

Thanks to Catherine for allowing me to share her photos with you here.

High pressure rules the weather - cold, starry nights and sunny days. Where's our rain?

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Amy Ruegg photographed this jaunty-looking orange Bat Star recently.

This member of the family Asterinidae comes in many different colors. Bat Stars have webbing between their arms, which resemble bat wings. They live in the intertidal zone and they help keep the ocean clean by eating algae and dead animals. Amy photographed this Star at low tide, the perfect time to go tide pooling.

Thanks to Amy for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

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Allen Vinson trained his camera at tide pools during a recent low tide. He found an Ochre Sea Star.

Ochre Sea Star by Allen Vinson

And he saw Sea Urchins, the more commonly seen purple ones, and a rarer red one. There is also a Sea Anemone here too.

Rare Red Sea Urchin with Purple Sea Urchins and an Anemone by Allen Vinson

The Independent Coast Observer publishes the tide tables in its weekly newspaper. Check the tide tables and plan your adventure to coincide with a minus tide or very low tide.

Thanks to Allen for allowing me to share his photos with you here.