Duxbury Reef
Exploring the pools and crevices during at low tide.
At 6:00 am, May 17th, 2003, the sun and moon aligned against the earth where their
gravity field would pull tides down to their lowest level for the year.
Although the celestial bodies involved could have picked a better time of day, the shallow incidence
of the rising sun could potentially light up deep crevices allowing for rare photos of landlocked marine
invertebrates no longer protected by the rough white cover of the Pacific swell. So on this fine Saturday
I set my alarm clocked early, fell out of bed, got dressed, and made my way out to Bolinas under the predawn light.
Duxbury Reef, just
north of Bolinas and at the southern tip of Point Reyes, is named for the sailing ship that sank here in 1849.
Photos
Click to expand
Ugghhhh... I can't believe I'm up this early. What's worse, there's a bunch of other
morons out at this time, and they all seem to be heading north. I figured their leader might have the skinny
on good tidepool viewing, so after exploring the southern portions of the reef a little I followed their tracks up the
beach.
Okay, here's the northern part of the reef where they were going, beyond Bolinas Point, maybe a half mile north
of the parking lot. My, those rocks and algea are sure looking comfortable right now--maybe I'll take a little nap.
Whoa, hey, these tidepools are pretty cool. The second shot shows the classic tidepool creature of this area:
green anemones, sea urcins, bryozoans (the pink lettuce), and two arms of a sea star.
Here's a fine shot of Anthopleura elegantissima, the giant green anemone. Along with sea urchins and sea
stars they were the most common large invertebrates here.
Did somebody say sea stars? Here's a couple shots of Pisaster ochraceus, the typical star fish of this area.
Actually, the only species I saw. They come in purple and orange varieties. The second one has a hairy back.
Some more purple sea urchins, or Strongylocentrotus purpurata, along the walls of a channel passing through the reef.
Uh oh... here two sea stars having at it. In our rapid paced higher vertebrate awareness they may seem to be
coexisting peacefully, but time lapse photography has shown they are highly territorial and are actually engaged
in violent wresting matches when sped up a 1000-fold.
Quite a catch for this lucky guy. From the claws it looks like a rock crab.
The autofocus on my camera sometimes had trouble focusing on pictures through water.
The mussel beds (Mytilus californianus) proliferated along the tops of the ridges,
seeming to enjoy the protection of the pounding surf that would usually crash here,
perhaps washing away potential predators.
Don't worry, little fella... you can come out. You're a bit small for my appetite.
Now you're more like it. Here's Pugettia producta, or kelp crab, scavenging the crevices of the reef.
Ack, this might have made a good
wallpaper, but it's kind of hard paying attention to the focus and keeping my shadow out of the picture and not getting
pinched while using the macro setting.
Not sure what this is. I think it's a nudibranch, or possibly a sea anemone with rare colors in these parts.
White body, purple gills/tentacles.
To the right is a chiton hanging on the underside of the crevice.
I got my left foot good and soaked positioning myself for this shot.
The sun has moved high up by now, but fortunally a light upper cloud layer has moved in to keep things from getting
to hot on the long walk back.
I don't make it out to Duxbury Reef that often, and it always seems I spend a half-hour looking
for it since no signs are posted. So, for posterity, or when I want to go back, here's the driving directions.
From the Golden Gate Bridge, follow 101 north and take the Highway 1 exit, following it past Muir Beach to Stinson Beach.
North of Stinson Beach, just past Bolinas Lagoon, turn left of Bolinas Road, right on Mesa Road, then left on
Overlook road, following it almost to the end. About a block before the cliffs, turn right on Elm Street (I think
it's the only paved right turn from Overlook), and follow it to where it basically ends at the Agate Beach parking lot.
Obviously you'll want to go at low tide, and the internet tide chart I use is
here.
(b. May 17, 2003)
Wallpapers
Click to expand
A common collection of tidepool critters in Duxbury Reef.
Downloads (urchinpool):
1280x960,
1024x768,
800x600,
640x480
That's one big meal for an anemone. Maybe not for everyone's taste in wallpapers, but makes me kinda hungry.
This is a bad day for crabs, whom I've always thought were near the top of the tidepool food chain.
I think that starfish is looking for a piece of the action.
Downloads (biggulp):
1280x960,
1024x768,
800x600,
640x480
Baby crab and mama crab tucked within a deep recess, looking out at me into the light.
Two examples of the striped shore crab, or Pachygrapsus crassipes.
Actually, it's almost certain the two are unrelated, but given the kind of day crabs have been having I'd just stay
in there.
Downloads (crabhole):
1280x960,
1024x768,
800x600,
640x480
Back to top.
Back to home.
Okay, here's the northern part of the reef where they were going, beyond Bolinas Point, maybe a half mile north
of the parking lot. My, those rocks and algea are sure looking comfortable right now--maybe I'll take a little nap.
Whoa, hey, these tidepools are pretty cool. The second shot shows the classic tidepool creature of this area:
green anemones, sea urcins, bryozoans (the pink lettuce), and two arms of a sea star.
Here's a fine shot of Anthopleura elegantissima, the giant green anemone. Along with sea urchins and sea
stars they were the most common large invertebrates here.
Did somebody say sea stars? Here's a couple shots of Pisaster ochraceus, the typical star fish of this area.
Actually, the only species I saw. They come in purple and orange varieties. The second one has a hairy back.
Some more purple sea urchins, or Strongylocentrotus purpurata, along the walls of a channel passing through the reef.
Uh oh... here two sea stars having at it. In our rapid paced higher vertebrate awareness they may seem to be
coexisting peacefully, but time lapse photography has shown they are highly territorial and are actually engaged
in violent wresting matches when sped up a 1000-fold.
Quite a catch for this lucky guy. From the claws it looks like a rock crab.
The autofocus on my camera sometimes had trouble focusing on pictures through water.
The mussel beds (Mytilus californianus) proliferated along the tops of the ridges,
seeming to enjoy the protection of the pounding surf that would usually crash here,
perhaps washing away potential predators.
Don't worry, little fella... you can come out. You're a bit small for my appetite.
Now you're more like it. Here's Pugettia producta, or kelp crab, scavenging the crevices of the reef.
Ack, this might have made a good
wallpaper, but it's kind of hard paying attention to the focus and keeping my shadow out of the picture and not getting
pinched while using the macro setting.
Not sure what this is. I think it's a nudibranch, or possibly a sea anemone with rare colors in these parts.
White body, purple gills/tentacles.
To the right is a chiton hanging on the underside of the crevice.
I got my left foot good and soaked positioning myself for this shot.
The sun has moved high up by now, but fortunally a light upper cloud layer has moved in to keep things from getting
to hot on the long walk back.
A common collection of tidepool critters in Duxbury Reef.
That's one big meal for an anemone. Maybe not for everyone's taste in wallpapers, but makes me kinda hungry.
This is a bad day for crabs, whom I've always thought were near the top of the tidepool food chain.
I think that starfish is looking for a piece of the action.
Baby crab and mama crab tucked within a deep recess, looking out at me into the light.
Two examples of the striped shore crab, or Pachygrapsus crassipes.
Actually, it's almost certain the two are unrelated, but given the kind of day crabs have been having I'd just stay
in there.