A roadstop at the Cayucos pier, south of Cambria
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Arriving at Rancho Marino in Cambria
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Low tide of about -1.7' at dawn
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Idotea on Egregia menziesii
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Phyllospadix spp.
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Phyllospadix scouleri seed pod
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Lottia instabilis on oar weed, Laminaria dentigera can only be seen subtidally or on extreme lowest low tides
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Six-rayed brooding seastar, Leptasterias sp.
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Lottia instabilis on Laminaria dentigera
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Lottia instabilis grows a saddle-shaped shell when it occurs on kelp stipes, but is broad, low profiled, and oval in dorsal view outline when it lives under rocks (such rock morphs were formerly called L. ochracea)
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Chlorostoma brunnea
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Nereocystis luetkeana (bull kelp) resting on surf grass
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"Lottia" paleacea (surfgrass limpet) on Phyllospadix torreyi
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Surfgrass limpet adult next to Lottia scabra juvenile
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funny?
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Much-needed coffee at Robin's in Cambria
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The chicken club sandwich is highly recommended!
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My favorite bike (I own two men's and one woman's), a mid-50s Schwinn Spitfire
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Heart's Ease in Cambria has a wonderful "backyard" that reminds me of my mom's gardens
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The Cookie Crock Market in Cambria is a great grocery store on the hill above the main drag, where they will actually help you bring groceries to your car.
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San Simeon Pier
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San Simeon Cove often is sunny and calm when much of the central coast is either foggy or windy
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Aglaophenia cf latirostris (ostrich plume hydroid)
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Near the end of San Simeon Cove are various trails to venture out to the peninsula just north of the cove
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Sticky monkey flower
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A forest grove of old eucalyptus trees
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Bumble bee on sticky monkey flower
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Indian paintbrush
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Sea tunnel
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Extensive kelp forest of mostly giant bladder kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera)
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This rock looked like an old man to me
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The north side of the peninsula has a eucalyptus-bordered trail, with at least one trail through the thick coastal vegetation to the beach
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The high low tide had exposed the mid zone, on this shelf dominated by rockweed (Silvetia compressa)
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I looked hard for Lottia conus but only found its more northern relative, L. scabra
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Lottia scabra
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Lottia limatula
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Identity confirmed by noting the black head and pigmented side of foot
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Lottia austrodigitalis
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Fucus gardneri
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Typical fauna under Silvetia compressa
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One of these shield limpets has migrated from living on feather boa kelp earlier in life, as my lab has studied and will present at the upcoming Western Society of Malacologists annual meeting in Fullerton, June 23-27, 2009
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The shield limpet, Lottia pelta and Hartweg's chiton, Cyanoplax hartwegii
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Hesperophycus californicus
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An extremely large shield limpet
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Lottia austrodigitalis dominated the highest pier pilings
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The cattle and deer welcomed me back to Rancho Marino Reserve
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Under Construction!