It wasn't the lowest tidal day of the month, but snorkeling around Boundary Bay was downright pleasant amid the searing temperatures today.
One of the fortunate sand dollars that happened to find a stream of running water as opposed to the others drying out in the slightly higher sand embankments
Many cockles were also high and dry...this one lucked out in a pool
Metal structures next to the cairn colonized by many species of anemone
Plumose anemone, the only species I could identify
I don't think I've seen this species of jellyfish before
kelp crab
dungeness crab
The shallow ponds of water were hot. In addition to the clams and crabs that succumbed to the heat, there were also fish casualties as well.
The above fish clearly were freshly dead. One might think it's the hot temperatures alone that kill the fish, but it's more likely suffocation that did these fish in. Hot water has a less capacity to hold oxygen, and I can safely say that this water was at least 40 degrees.
As the planet experience's this year's supermoon, the tides swing in the greatest direction.
Saturday's tide was a low 0.4 metres. For the tidal flats at Boundary Bay, this meant we could walk a kilometre before hitting the water's edge, or a mile out to reach the cairn marking the Canada / US International Boundary Survey Monument.
On the way out, we saw beds dense with live sand dollars.
The tube feet and spines can clearly be seen here
In the eel grass beds, I saw this fish with bulging eyes. I have no idea what it could be.
I used to think of anemones as a rarity in lower mainland beaches. Today, I saw more species of anemone in a single day than ever before on a beach.
Anemone species 1, budding. diameter about 1cm
Anemone species 2 - a burrowing anemone. Diameter 4 cm
Crabs were abundant. Crabbers were out in force with their hip waders and tongs.
On the way out to the cairn, I saw several metal posts positioned horizontally. It is an oasis of sorts for the creatures that need solid footing.
Anemone species 3 and 4 on some metal structures at the cairn. Diameter about 15 cm
Crabs have amnesty when it comes to international boundaries. This one was found on the cairn, which marks the US/Canada boundary
I used to think that a cockle's natural place was buried deep within the sand, like other clams. I saw enough filter feeding right off the surface of the sand at Boundary Bay to make me re-evaluate this perception.
Species #5, in the fast flow of the outgoing tide. Diameter about 3 cm
I also saw a midshipman for the first time. They don't have the wide head of sculpins, and the rays on their fins are not as pronounced.
A plainfin midshipman, a first for me.
Here it is, burrowing itself in the sand.
Boundary Bay hosts quite a few different habitats - the mud flats, the sandy bottoms, eel grass beds, and a solid hunk of concrete. There are still a number of low tides left this summer...many discoveries await to be found.
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