Low tide mid-May 2024
Text by John F. Williams
Photos by John F. Williams except as noted
Some beautifully sunny Spring weather and low tide drew me once more to the beach. I took a long walk on one of my favorite beaches, stretching south from Kitsap Memorial State Park.
I wasn’t the only one enjoying the beach, I saw lots of birds, either perched or flying by. I don’t have a very long camera lens, so the birds look deceptively small. But, depending on your device, if you click on the photos, they will get bigger.
And the sandy parts of the beach contained many of the ususal performers, including a variety of shells and seaweed. Sometimes, like with this moonsnail shell, it seemed as if they were performing together.
Although most of the sandy areas were smooth or covered with scattered sea lettuce, there were some bumpy patches. These looked like the sand was being disturbed by lots of small critters.
Looking more closely, I could see that the disturbances in the sand were sand dollars. Yes, I am showing sand dollars again! They are some of my favorite friends to photograph. Here’s also a photo of a young one which was isolated, just beginning to dig into the sand.
Here is a young sand dollar who died before it had a chance to grow larger. Without the black spines and tube feet, it’s easier to see the eccentric 5-lobed shape on it that leads to it being called an eccentric sand dollar.
And I did see one collar of moon snail eggs — they weren’t all over the beach as they had been earlier in the spring.
See more about sand dollars…
And some of the beach areas didn’t have those disturbances made by sand dollars, but they had lots of small rocks, shells, and sea lettuce to provide texture and color.
What else do you see in the photo above?
Killdeer near the wrack line. photo by Michael F. Adams
I found that as I walked closer to the top edge of the beach, killdeer began to run around the beach, calling and trying to coax me away from the high-tide line where their nests were. But their coloring was a good camouflage — I could hear them, but it wasn’t easy to spot them.
Killdeer. photos by Michael F. Adams
Then, as I returned to the park, I saw evidence of another old friend. These tiny flowers in the beach wrack made me look up to see a flowering madrone tree.
I always marvel that such tiny flowers can get pollinated, but bees seem to find a way to squeeze up into the tiny flower’s opening.
Another wonderful day at the beach!
And if you’d like a low-tide experience with some docents available to explain things, here are some links to 2024 event calendars around Puget Sound:
- FREE Kitsap beach explorations
- Beach Naturalist events on the east side of Puget Sound posted by the Seattle Aquarium
- similar events in South Sound from the Puget Sound Estuarium.
See More virtual tours
SOME OTHER ESPECIALLY INTERESTING RESOURCES
Low Tide Events 2025
Below are some schedules of when and where you can explore low tide with Beach Naturalists there to help you learn more about what you are seeing.
2025 Kitsap Beach Explorations — Join local naturalists to observe the unique creatures that call the fragile intertidal zone home. These events are FREE and suitable for all ages.
Meet the Beach in South Sound — The Puget Sound Estuarium’s Meet the Beach program sends trained Beach Naturalist volunteers out during summer low-tides to help the community discover intertidal life!
Seattle to Federal Way — The Seattle Aquarium’s seasonal Beach Naturalist Program helps community members learn about and enjoy our vibrant shorelines.
Bainbridge Island Beach Explorations — During low tide events, Bainbridge Beach Naturalists are on the beach looking for the amazing sea life that shares our shores with us.
Science and Nature
This series of short videos, "Human Elements, Science and Nature," is on our local PBS station (KCTS9) as well as online. It features some great local science stories and amazing imagery.
https://www.kcts9.org/show/human-elements/episodes
Future Ecologies
I was thrilled when I discovered the “Future Ecologies” podcast because it has an uncanny resemblance to what we set out to do with Salish Magazine (except that it’s audio rather than visual).
It is one of the few media efforts which really embraces the ecosystem perspective. Use this link to take a look at the review of Future Ecologies on our SEA-Media web site.
The Marine Detective
Jackie Hildering invites you to her blog: "Join me in the cold, dark, life-sustaining NE Pacific Ocean to discover the great beauty, mystery and fragility hidden there." But even before you get to the blog, on her home page there is a slideshow of absolutely stunning photographs.
Street Smart Naturalist
Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind is a weekly blog written by David B. Williams to share observations about the human and natural world around Seattle, Puget Sound, and the Pacific Northwest.
Are you in the target audience?
- People who want to know more about Seattle and Puget Sound and the many fascinating stories that can be found by wandering the streets, deep diving newspaper archives, perusing old photos, and taking the time to slow down, be more observant, and ask questions;
- Urban naturalists who delight in noticing fossils in buildings, walruses in terra cotta, and ants bubbling out of sidewalk cracks;
- Flaneurs, historians, optimists, and the just plain nerdy;
- And, those who simply look around and find beauty and amazement in the world around them.
Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
The Encyclopedia of Puget Sound is a comprehensive guide to the science of Salish Sea ecosystem recovery. Articles on this site describe the region's major environmental threats and areas of concern, but also the facts and stories that make the Salish Sea an estuary of international importance. The website is a product of the University of Washington Puget Sound Institute and receives major support from the Environmental Protection Agency's National Estuary Program.
Hakai Magazine
Hakai Magazine explores science, society, and the environment from a coastal perspective. Not only is its content instructive, but it's presentation is visually inspiring.
Living on Earth
Public Radio's Environmental News Magazine. If you're looking for some substance beyond the normal focus of our media on sports, politics, fashion, and economy, listen to this show which does a great job of portraying earth ecosystems as something essential to our lives. The stories it tells are compelling.
IslandWood's Phenology Friday
For 12 weeks in 2020, one of IslandWood’s educators shared a phenological highlight. Watch the videos of their explorations.
Pacific Wonder Tracker
Pacific Wonder Tracker celebrates the delicious sense of wonder we experience when exposed to the natural environment. It is also specific to the natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest. Whether you live here, plan to visit, or just have a curious mental itch, you can enjoy reading about wonders you may encounter in coastal Washington and Oregon.
"Scientists on the Go" from WET Science Center
WET Science Center's "Scientists on the Go" activities integrate science into a child's day while incorporating reading, writing, and math skills! There are a combination of indoor and outdoor activities to keep the learner curious and asking questions. Check back regularly for updated science activities and new printable activity packets. Recommended for elementary age children.
Remote Science Learning
Use this guide to find science resources to supplement remote learning. Thurston County environmental organizations have developed activities for all ages. This resource is provided by the Thurston County ECO Network.
Deep Look
This collection of short videos by PBS shows the unseen at the very edge of our visible world. Get a new perspective on our place in the universe and meet extraordinary new friends. Explore big scientific mysteries by going incredibly small.
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