Tidepooling

Jasper checks out a sea cave.

We made our annual pilgrimage to the Oregon Coast for tidepooling during one of the spring low tides.  Every year we see things we've never seen before, and tidepooling always seems magical to me.  The list we consult to find good tidepooling locations is here, and NOAA has excellent tide tables on their website.  (It's interesting to note that tides can vary quite a bit depending on your exact location on the coast.)   And the low tides aren't over!  Some ultra low tides (approaching -3 feet) are predicted for the end of June.  For the last several years, we've gone to Bob Creek Wayside, which has amazing tidepooling and two sea caves that are fun to explore.  

Giant green anemone. Photo by Jasper.

Purple shore crab. Photo by Jasper.

Marine isopod.  They look like huge pillbugs, and line the walls of one of the sea caves.

Smooth bay shrimp.

Smooth bay shrimp.

Giant green anemones, ochre sea stars, and pacific goose barnacles.

Pacific goose barnacles and mussels.

Giant green anemone.

Dall's acorn barnacles and snail.

Exploring another sea cave.

Giant green anemone.

Snail crossing the sand.

Lurid rock snail.

Giant green anemone.

Limpets.

Mussel worm.

Black turban snails.

Black turban snail.

Cinquefoil.