Tide Pools - Salt Creek, WA - Jul 2009

Salt Creek Recreation Area has an interesting tide pool area and we were there during two of the lowest "low tides" of the summer, so we had to go check them out. This colorful grouping includes a red spiny urchin inside of a muscle shell and surrounded by purple urchins and green sea lettuce.
At low tide, the rocks along Tongue Point were revealed and we were able to walk out quite a distance. The first stretch of getting to the tide pools was a walk across the wet sands of Crescent Bay. Here the rippled sand looked like gray satin as the morning sun glistened on its surface.
From the sandy beach, we began trekking over muscle encrusted rocks. They were solidly attached so getting across them wasn't too difficult. I just felt like apologizing to them for using them as a pathway.
Some of the rocks had remains of something etched into them.
Near the end, the going was very slippery as the wet rocks were covered with seaweed and kelp.
On our first visit, there were quite a few marine enthusiasts out exploring and many of them were well prepared for the adventure with walking poles, sturdy gloves and boots. On our second visit, we brought walking poles and they really helped to keep us stable on the slick rocks. I also brought gloves -- not only to protect my hands when grabbing onto the barnacle encrusted rocks, but also so I could pick up some of the marine life and examine it more closely without being too squeamish about handling things. This man didn't mind using his bare hands to pick up a huge sea star.
The most prevalent sea life were the anemones. It was hard to walk and not step on them. Here is one in its closed up state -- not very attractive.
But unfurled -- the anemone is a beauty. Mind you -- most of these photos were taken through water, so not the sharpest of images.
Another angle for a partially unfurled anemone. This shows how its attached at the base.
Tiny, striped fish were trapped in the tide pools.

Another purple urchin.

A magenta colored crab surrounded by sea lettuce and barnacles.

A green hermit crab.

Another anemone -- this one had two crabs inside who were struggling to get out. We watched for 10 minutes as the anemone slowly closed in on them.

A chiton.

Two different kinds of starfish.

A closer look at the smaller starfish -- it looked like a plastic toy, but when I picked one up, it was rigid as stone.

My favorite shot -- this grouping of three different colored starfish -- all with their arms overlapping. Click on this for a better view.