ewrunn1ng's Favorites
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Pacific Batwing Seaslug (Gastropteron pacificum)Observer
jensseattleDescription
Observed at night. I have never seen so many at one time. There were about 10-15 swimming around.
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Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)Observer
rtshaw80Description
Ilwaco, WA
eBird Checklist:
ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S12211415
This will be the 3rd or 4th state record (pending the possible acceptance of an older tabled record by the WBRC). Surprisingly, another Summer Tanager showed up a few days later in Seattle!
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Genus MopaliaObserver
wendy1065Description
ID'ed as M. kennerlyi, Northern Hairy Chiton, on a group forum by an expert, but don't see that option on iNaturalist.
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Warty Columned Anemone (Aulactinia incubans)Observer
ljv2023Description
There were several of these close together in the tidepool
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Northern Horsemussel (Modiolus modiolus)Observer
ljv2023Description
First time I’ve seen this species at this location.
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Western Pearlshell (Margaritifera falcata)Observer
ljv2023Description
Surprised to see this fresh water species on a salt water beach.
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Nudibranch-mimicking Amphipod (Podocerus cristatus)Observer
jeffgoddardDescription
Nudibranch Coryphella trilineata (northern form, about 10mm long) & look-alike amphipod Podocerus cristatus. Scanned from a 35 mm slide I took in the lab in 1984. I had found the specimens in close proximity to each other a few days earlier in the low intertidal at Middle Cove, Cape Arago, Oregon. The amphipod (and her recently hatched juveniles, visible at lower right when viewed large) are on a piece of the outer tube of the polychaete Pista elongata; the slug is on a piece of the hydroid Abietinaria.
Notice the white head tentacles of the slug and the white antennae on the amphipod. Here's what one form of the amphipod looks like in central California, where the southern form of O. trilineata ( with chromium orange on their rhinophores and cephalic tentacles) is prevalent: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/1103734
Farther south, near Puerto Vallarta, MX, the amphipod lacks white lines, just like the abundant local aeolids (see Fig. 1f-h in paper here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282252603).
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Monterey Dorid (Doris montereyensis)Observer
mckittreDescription
I call this the "ecology jackpot" of intertidal creatures -- nudibranch eating a sponge which grew over a snail shell which holds a hermit crab
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Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus)Observer
deemopahanDescription
Purple Finch, Juanita Bay Park, 150624
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Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)Observer
deemopahanDescription
Common Yellowthroat, Juanita Bay Park, 150624
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Carinate Dovesnail (Alia carinata)Observer
pjbryantDescription
Veliger , Identified by DNA barcode
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Sarsia tubulosaObserver
ja_fieldsDescription
Observed while nightlighting. This was the only individual of this species I saw in the 3-4 hours I watched the water.
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Common Siphonophore (Nanomia bijuga)Observer
ja_fieldsDescription
Observed while nightlighting. Saw one other individual with a longer nectosome but couldn’t catch it to get ID photos.
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Canadian Comb Jelly (Bolinopsis microptera)Observer
ja_fieldsDescription
Observed while nightlighting
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Mountain Beaver (Aplodontia rufa)Observer
seabeckDescription
I am once again asking you not to play in the road
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Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii)Observer
sally3142Description
Continuing rarity, first spotted the day before 26th Dec., 2023 by Carroll R. Seen by many birders as it basically paraded along the waterfront in front of us.
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Twelve-tentacled Parasitic Anemone (Peachia quinquecapitata)Observer
true_islanderDescription
Interesting to find three of these (each individual pictured) during a low-tide walk. Found under the north-end Vashon Ferry Dock.
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Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)Observer
inyourlocationDescription
Belted kingfisher with a catch on the morning near the beach
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Douglas' Squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasii)Observer
kiwikiuDescription
Peanut heist gone wrong!
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Fernald's Aeolid (Cumanotus fernaldi)Observer
jensseattleDescription
Observed while night lighting off the docks in the Shilshole marina. At least 2 observed, swimming in the water column.
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Alitta williamiObserver
jensseattleDescription
Observed swimming at night off the docks
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Heart Crab (Phyllolithodes papillosus)Observer
eblekeDescription
Dive observation. Juvenile. Finger for size in second photo.
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Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)Observer
jubilee3Description
This observation involves three eagles. Two eagles were perched in the tree, exchanging vocaliations, when a third eagle flew up to the top eagle in an aggressive manner. The approaching eagle and the bottom-perched eagle attacked each other, locking talons and spinning around over the lake. A short time later, the original pair flew off together over the lake, and the third eagle flew off in a different direction.
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Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus)Observer
beastmode1969Description
Eating a Giant Pacific Octopus!
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Japanese Wireweed (Sargassum muticum)Observer
bclarkstonDescription
Low intertidal, on lined chiton.
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East Pacific Red Octopus (Octopus rubescens)Observer
eblekeDescription
Dive observation. Juvenile, only a few inches across. Camouflage barnacles!
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Genus MyxicolaObserver
naturebynancyDescription
I was Dock Fouling at Deer Harbor Marina and found this. I don’t even know where to start in classifying it.
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Sea Cherub (Cliopsis krohnii)Observer
hunterefsDescription
Approx. 4 individuals in a patch of flotsam. Very nice surprise!
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Hooded Nudibranch (Melibe leonina)Observer
hunterefsDescription
~4 individuals, swimming!
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East Pacific Red Octopus (Octopus rubescens)Observer
thelittlebrrmaidDescription
I love baby reds! This time of year they seem to be everywhere. At Mukilteo especially, I look extra closely at empty clam shells. This little guy was only an inch or so long.
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Eumida longicornutaObserver
bellaormsethDescription
A segmented marine worm. Dead, I think. About 3 inches long.
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Sunflower Sea Star (Pycnopodia helianthoides)Observer
ewrunn1ngDescription
This is the first Pycnopodia I've seen on Seattle beaches in six years. Hope it's a sign they're beginning to come back after being devastated by Sea Star wasting.
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Giant Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini)Observer
wendy5Description
This Bald Eagle was eating a Giant Pacific Octopus's 2' arm, then carried the remains to a branch on the bluff and kept eating.
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Purple Ribbon Worm (Paranemertes peregrina)Observer
ewrunn1ngDescription
Purple Ribbon worm observed in the process of swallowing a Nereid polychaete. Fourth photo shows the ribbon worm everting its proboscis and injecting the prey with a toxin.
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Ragworms and Allies (Family Nereididae)Observer
ewrunn1ngDescription
Unfortunate polychaete being eaten by a ribbon worm.
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Ochre Sea Star (Pisaster ochraceus)Observer
ewrunn1ngDescription
Unusual seven-armed individual! I've seen some with six, but this is the first with seven I've ever found.
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Comb Jellies (Phylum Ctenophora)Observer
dnordinDescription
This was found in a plankton tow off pier 60 in Seattle.
I kept waiting for it to uncoil to make me feel confident it was a marine worm of some kind.
It moved in a pulsing rotation by straightening and lowering what seem to be flagella or very pointed paddle-like appendages. These are rather flat and taper to the ends. What puzzles me is that even if this uncoils I am not sure this would demonstrate a bilateral symmetry I associate with most marine worm larvae.
I would love to hear what others think?
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Lewis's Moon Snail (Neverita lewisii)Observer
ewrunn1ngDescription
Beautiful Moon Snail operculum (trap door) found washed up on the beach. This is only the second one of these I've found.
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Northern Red Belt (Fomitopsis mounceae)Observer
ewrunn1ngDescription
Growing on the base of a stump. Some sort of shelf or bracket fungus?
