Category Archives: Sandy beach

Dungeness crabs

Posted on November 12, 2016 by

During the summer of 2013 I got to know Dungeness crabs very well. (Also see my 2013 post.) For three months, small crabs (about an inch or two across) and crab molts (old shells discarded so the crab can grow) littered … Continue reading →

Posted in California coastline, Monterey Bay, Sandy beach | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Artful sand dollars

Posted on July 9, 2016 by

During low-tide walks this week sand dollars (Dendraster excentricus) have been the dominant life form. Everywhere dotting the exposed sand were white tests (as in dead shells), soft deep-purple disks (the healthy live ones), and shapely sand traces (from under-sand burrowing). The feeding must be good and the living easy on … Continue reading →

Posted in California coastline, Monterey Bay, Sandy beach | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Pelagic red crabs

Posted on May 29, 2016 by

Twice in my three decades living on the Monterey Peninsula I’ve witnessed two invasions by pelagic red crabs, also called tuna crabs, or langostino by some. These are spectacular and rare occurrences along our coast, although we’ve had a couple this … Continue reading →

Posted in California coastline, Monterey Bay, Sandy beach | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Sanderlings

Posted on December 6, 2015 by

This week sanderlings showed up on my local beach en masse — nearly a thousand little pinball birds, along with marbled godwits, whimbrels, and a variety of gulls. All were feeding on sand crabs in the wash of very big surf … Continue reading →

Posted in California coastline, Monterey Bay, Sandy beach | Tagged , , | 5 Comments