Double Bluff/Wahl Farm

Looking for organisms Looking for organisms

Double Bluff Wahl Farm team 2010 Double Bluff Wahl Farm team 2010

Checking out quadrat Checking out quadrat

..Nereocystis leutkeana.. Bull kelp Bull kelp Bull kelp

..Anthopleura artemisia.. Moonglow anemone Anthopleura artemisia Anthopleura artemisia

..Mazzaella splendens.. Iridescent seaweed Iridescent seaweed Iridescent seaweed

Double Bluff /Wahl Farm is one of the richest and most diverse beaches on Whidbey Island's annual monitoring schedule. Team captain Kathy Fritts gathered a team of seven to conduct its yearly examination on May 17th . With the tide falling to -2.7 feet, the team was rewarded with some fascinating organisms including 5 species of anemones, 5 species of barnacles, and 3 species of sea stars. Quite a variety of kelps and other seaweeds were also documented including bull kelp, iridescent seaweed (Mazzaella splendens), Sargassum muticum (wireweed), and Ralfsia (sea fungus).

..Cucumaria miniata.. Red sea cucumber Cucumaria miniata Cucumaria miniata

..Zirfaea pilsbryi.. Rough piddock Rough piddock Rough piddock

..Hermissenda crassicornis.. Opalescent nudibranch Opalescent nudibranch Opalescent nudibranch

Tanker Tanker

When asked about highlights, team members picked the opalescent nudibranchs, red sea cucumbers, brittle stars, and numerous rough piddocks that were bored into the hard clay substrate. Massive tankers and container ships passed by as the team worked and a young bald eagle watched from the top of a tree snag on a nearby bluff. What a fun day!

Double Bluff/Wahl Farm

Onchidella borealis

Looking under a rock

Rough piddock

Amphiodia

Opalescent nudibranch

Team captain Jan Holmes and the Double Bluff/Wahl Farm team put up with intermittent rain showers to get profile and species data on July 3rd but when more ominous looking dark clouds appeared and thunderclaps began to rumble, the team headed for their cars, deciding quadrat observations could wait until another day. Their retreat was well timed because just as they reached the parking area, the clouds opened up with torrential rain. The slightly soggy but otherwise gung ho team had a grand time while they were on the beach finding an incredibly diverse group of organisms including caprellid amphipods, opalescent and barnacle eating nudibranchs and their little sea slug relatives commonly known as leather limpets (Onchidella borealis). In addition they identified rough piddocks (Zirphaea pilsbryi), four species of bryozoans, and a long-rayed brittle star Amphiodia sp.). June Davis brought along her 4-year-old granddaughter who had a great time making new friends and learning about the beach critters. Finn Gatewood pulled double duty that morning, starting out collecting data for a pigeon guillemot survey along the Wahl Farm beach bluff and then joining the monitoring team after finishing her bird survey.