Sat 5/26 Deadman Bay Preserve, San Juan Island, WA

San Juan Island, WA (San Juan Archipelago in the Puget Sound)
Island Coordinates: 48° 31′ 55.44″ N, 123° 1′ 45.31″ W

Today we visited one of our favorite spots on San Juan Island, Deadman Bay (or as my dad told me for the first 10 years of my life, "Jellyfish Beach", because "Deadman" was too scary...ha!).

The information sign for Deadman Bay Preserve.
"This property was purchased in 1995 by the citizens of San Juan County through the San Juan County lank Bank with assistance from the Trust for Public Land and Washington State Recreation and Conservation Funding Board. It provides access to 1600 feet of shoreline including beach, tidepools, and rocky bluff. It also protects 16 acres of diverse forest, coastal prairie, and wetland habitat including a seasonal stream. Trails connect to adjacent Limekiln State Park and Land Bank Limekiln Preserve."
Reading this sign made me think about why I love San Juan so much. I guess I'm biased, but I think San Juan Island is one of the most interesting places in Washington (and the world)! The diversity of contrasting, interwoven landscapes and ecosystems on this relatively small island are manifold (55.053 sq mi). San Juan Island is considered a temperate forested island throughout, but taking a walk around this island sometimes feels like taking a walk around the world! Rocky shorelines are carved out among immense balsaltic rock formations that shelter the beach and extend out like jagged fingers into the Salish Sea. As I venture away from the smooth-pebbled beach, the driftwood bulkhead quickly blends into a golden prairie grassland where colonies of non-native European rabbits run in haphazard configuration and crickets chirp from their hiding places in the grass. If I travel around the island, I find dense stands of old-growth Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar, meadows, mountains, murky mires, freshwater lakes, breathtaking cliffs, tranquil bays, and views of the Puget Sound and other forested islands. No wonder UW has a research facility here!
Here is a cool link about San Juan's Natural History: http://www.outdoorodysseys.com/about-the-san-juan-islands/natural-history-of-the-san-juan-islands/

Today I will take a look at both the marine and terrestrial biotic communities.

These pictures were all taken on the same day in February this year. I think the arrangement highlights the contrasting diversity of the landscape. (top= our yard on Westcott Bay, middle= prairie grasslands at south beach, bottom= rocky shoreline)

Here at Deadman Bay, there is a little cove with a relatively small beach compared to South Beach. The cove is sheltered by large rock formations. The beach is not sandy, it is covered in small pebbles. I love to come here and hunt for agates! Above the beach, the shoreline is rocky and lined with Pacific Madrones and various forbs. The bright orange California poppies are blooming everywhere and are especially numerous on the rocks. The rocks are covered in colorful lichens (I think that is what they are?) They are even more prevalent at South Beach, so I will post some pictures with my entry for that location. In the summertime, there are usually a bunch of jellyfish washed up on the beach (hence my father's nickname, "Jellyfish Beach"). This is a great spot for kayaking, and there are often kayak tour groups gathered here in the summer and late spring (although none today).

Holding a Hermit Crab

We went to Deadman Bay specifically to visit the beach and tidepools, and compare the interesting array of terrestrial and marine species. Some of the species I could identify, some I could not. I gave it my best shot, so if I get some of these wrong please feel free to correct me! I would also really appreciate any help identifying species I have marked as "ID Please!".

Observed Terrestrial Species:
Hairy Catsear
Pacific Madrone
Osoberry
California Poppy
Various Seagulls
Grass

Observed Marine (Tidepool) Species:
Chinese Hat
Hermit Crab
Chiton
Northern Clingfish
Sea Anemone
Sea Snail
Barnacles

No Resident Killer Whales yet! They don't come until late summer.

Posted on June 5, 2012 06:54 AM by kates17