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Category Archives: Sandy beach
Dungeness crabs
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 beach walk, California coast, marine life, ocean conservation
1 Comment
Artful sand dollars
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 beach walk, marine life, Monterey Bay
6 Comments
Pelagic red crabs
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 beach walk, marine life, oceans
3 Comments
Sanderlings
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 beach walk, Monterey Bay, shorebirds + more birds
5 Comments