The new year is starting out well. The San Diego tide chart indicated a negative two foot tide at 3:00pm, meaning the sun, moon, earth and us were all in alignment. We made all sorts of new friends today. Mostly with kelp crabs, which kept popping out of the sea grass to see us. There was also a white crane looking for food, and a sculpin trying not to be looked at.
Today would have been a great tide pool day as it was, until I turned over just the right rock and surprised an octopus. It was the first time I have ever found an octopus at Cerezo Bluffs, although they are obviously there. Octopods are the masters of camouflage, their color and texture changing in seconds when they are on the move. Also, all octopus have a venomous bite. Although usually not harmful, we were avoiding its beak, located where his suckered arms meet.
I would say I wish all tide pool days ended like this but that is the fun of going, you never know what you are going to encounter.
Awesome photos!
I recommend an interesting and beautifully written book centering on octopuses – Metazoa, by Peter Godfrey-Smith.
Thanks for the book recommendation. That sounds very interesting! Now we are on an octopus kick. We just watched My Octopus Teacher (finally).
Wonderful blog today!! And extra fantastic pictures!! 🌟🌟🌟🌊🌊🐙🐙🐙🦂
You are truly the Marine Life Whisperer. I wish I was there, too. You are the best finder of all things cool.
I take it seriously! It’s a treasure hunt.