SCHMITZ PARK 7-21&22-13

Schmitz Park provided its usual collection of flora and fauna at low tide.  However, there were a large number of Frosted Sea Slugs, (Dirona albolineata) commonly subtidal on the surface of large mats of seaweed.  They have a very catholic diet, feeding on small snails which the crack open with strong jaws; sponges, bryozoans, tunicates, and small crustaceans are also on the menu.  Sponge eating Sea Lemons, Moon Snails, Sunflower and Mottled Sea Stars, were also abundant.  Drifting Fried-egg Jellyfish were also common; coming to a sad fate as they washed ashore.  Tomorrow, July 22 offers a minus 3.1 ft. low tide followed by a minus 2.8 feet on Tuesday......good time to go exploring as these are the last best tides of Summer.
Some images are from Alki Beach Park - just a mile north of Schmitz....on the previous day.

Tentacles of Fried-egg Jellyfish

Fried-egg Jellyfish

Frosted Sea Slugs (Dirona albolineata)

Frosted Sea Slug

Graceful Kelp Crab

Lacuna Snail with egg mass hat

Lined Chiton (feeds on coralline algae)

Moon Snail siphon

Moon Snail

Mottled Sea Star

Oregon Cancer Crab

Eelgrass Isopod

Hairy Chiton

Monterey Sea Lemon

Rose Anemone

Yellow sponge on clay

Spotted Sea Slug

Spotted Sea Slug

Barnacle Eating Sea Slugs laying eggs

Chiton bulldozing Plumose Anemone off piling

Crescent Gunnel

Feather Duster Worm at low tide

Lacuna Snail eggs masses

Moon Snail siphon 

Moon Snail with siphon exposed

Mottled and Purple Sea Stars

Plumose Anemone

Mud Ribbon Worm

Spaghetti Worm 

Dwarf Teardrop Crab

Octopus den

Graceful Kelp Crab

Hairy Chiton

Heath's Dorid

Kelp Crab with barnacles

Shield Limpet on encrusting algae

Moon Snail laying eggs

Mottled Star eating False Jingle Shell

Mottled Star losing water

Noble Sea Lemon

Noble Sea Lemon

Piddock Clam in clay

Sharp-nose Crab

Sunflower Star with meal leftovers

Hairy Cancer Crab