Sound View Beach Exploration

On Thursday afternoon, I spent about 3 hours exploring the beach at Sound View. Because my background is primarily in Marine Biology (study of life in the ocean), it was something I wanted to do since I first saw the property. I took advantage of the 1.8 ft low tide at 2pm, grabbed a shovel and hiked down to the beach.

I started my exploration by walking over to the pier. Here are some things I found:

Under the Pier

The pilings are covered in barnacles. Let’s look closer.

Barnacles

Barnacles are filter feeders. They use their feather-like foot to comb the water for plankton. They are related to crabs.

Mussels

Mussels are also filter feeders and are closely related to clams.

Closed Anemones

They close up for protection and to prevent themselves from drying out.

Open Anemone

Found in a pool of leftover water around the piling. What do you remember about anemones from Monday’s post?

Shaggy Mouse Nudibranch

My favorite find! The off-white sea slug and its white eggs. Nudibranch means “naked gills.” This species eats anemones.

Then I continued along the water line, looking under a few rocks and in the water:

Shore Crab

These little crabs are fond in great numbers hiding under rocks so they don’t become food for birds.

Periwinkle Snails

See the snails among the barnacles? These snails prefer the high tide zone, where they will be out of water for longer than most marine animals

Limpet

These domed snails graze on algae and will often return to their “home spot” on a rock when they are done.

Hermit Crab

Hermit Crabs find old snail shells for protection. As they grow, they will find a new shell. Looks like it is about time for this one to find a new shell

Sand Dollars

The beach is COVERED in Sand Dollars. I had to be very careful where I walked.

Sand Dollar

Sand Dollars are related to Sea Stars. They have short purple spines and tube feet that help them collect food in the sand.

Lunch time

An anemone was finishing up eating a crab.

Anemone in a Moon Snail shell

Another one of my favorite finds. This is why it is important to leave shells on the beach. They become habitat for other animals.

Jointed-tube Worms

These worms build and live in these tubes that are sticking out of the ground. When the water comes in, they will reach their feathery mouth-parts to filter feed.

As I continued around to the little cove, I started to dig some holes. Most of the life on a sandy beach is just underground.

Digging Holes

Sometimes I wouldn’t find anything and other times I would find over a dozen animals in one small hole. I return the animals and fill the hole back in when I am done.

Purple Varnish Clam

They are named after the purple on the inside of their shell. This is the clam I found the most of.

Japanese Littleneck clam

Compared to our native Littleneck Clams, these are more oblong and have color patterns on their shells.

Horseclam

This is a small Horseclam. They are often mistaken for Geoduck Clams but those have more of a rectangular shell. I found the Horseclams closer to the water compared to the other kinds of clams.

Mud Shrimp

Also called Ghost Shrimp. These are my favorite to dig up because I love to put them back in a puddle and watch them dig. Males have one claw that is much larger than the other.

WORMS!

Almost every hole I dug had at least one worm in it. They are similar to the land-dwelling Earthworm in that these worms have segments and they help turn up the mud and eat decaying things. The next picture is not for those who really don’t like worms.

Clam Worm

I call these Polychaetes after the Class of animals they belong to. Polychaetes have segmented bodies and feet-like chaetae all down the side of their bodies. I suggest not handling them because some can be venomous.

The one thing I was really hoping to find was a Moon Snail. I was sad that I did not see one but I saw a lot of evidence that they are present and active along our beach. There were a lot of clam shells with Moon Snail made holes in them as well as many empty Moon Snail shells.

Here are a few last images of things I found along the beach:

Sea Lettuce

The inside of the cove was lined with this green algae called Sea Lettuce. So I guess I’m good on veggies for a while.

Clam Shells

The top shell is from a Heart Cockle and the bottom is a Butter Clam. I unfortunately didn’t find and living ones of these species.

Old Crab Trap

It was half buried in the sand. Both algae and animals have made a home out of it.

Trash

Anytime I am down on a beach I take as much as i can hold and I encourage you to do the same. Luckily our beach is very clean and cared for!