Tag Archives: Ocher Star

•

Dash gets around and he loves noticing Nature. At the recent minus tides, Dash pointed out this Abalone which had been left high and kind-of-dry during the low tide event.

The Abalone looked healthy. It was waiting for the tide to return and perhaps bring some kelp for it to eat. I see another Abalone in this photo, under the reddish kelp in the upper right corner.

In the next photo, there is a lot going on! Chris photographed an Abalone with a Crab possibly trying to attack it. A big Ocher Star, Mussels, Purple Urchins, Turban Snails, and a Sea Anemone. Looks like a party, an intertidal party!

And here's a bonus photo of Dash, enjoying the Douglas Iris blooming at Gualala Point Regional Park. This time he was with his dad, John Wall.

Thanks to Chris and John for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

We had rain yesterday late afternoon. 0.15 inches in our rain gauge, 49.70 inches season to date. 50 inches is our average so this is good news for those of us on wells.  Today is sunny but there is a very strong breeze. There is no reason to brush your hair if you are outside today on the windy Mendonoma Coast!

•

May 31st had a minus tide that enticed Allen Vinson to head for Walk On Beach, on The Sea Ranch. The low tide revealed many wonders.

Look at all the Sea Anemones, and a Sea Star, an Ocher Star, on the right.

Here Allen's photo shows the intricate beauty of an Ocher Sea Star.

Thanks to Allen for allowing me to share his photos with you here. Check out the Independent Coast Observer's tide tables to find out the best time to go tide pooling!

Wind, windy, windiest - yep, it's windy on the Mendonoma Coast today.

•

Sea Stars were hit hard by a wasting disease, which began several years ago. Their demise is one of the reasons things are out of balance in the ocean. I'm happy to report healthy Stars are being seen in the intertidal zone. John Wall recently photographed an Ocher Star.

Earlier this year Martin Steinpress found baby Stars, a heartwarming sighting.

In years past, Sea Stars, formerly called Starfish, were seen in abundance. Craig Tooley took this great photo some years ago. May this become a more common sighting in the years to come.

Craig's photo appears in our book, Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year. He titled it "Sea Star party."

Thanks to John, Martin and Craig for allowing me to share their photos with you here. To see more of Craig's nature photography, visit his website www.ruffimage.com

A warm, windless day so far on this Memorial Day.