5.12.12 Grayland Beach, Washington

5.12.12

Location: Grayland Beach, Washington
Lat: 46.8098594832, Lon: -124.1012256473
Weather: The sky was perfectly clear. Without the wind (that is, closer inland) the temperature was in mid 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The area with the wind (the areas closest to the water), were much cooler. I would estimate the wind was moving south at about 20 mph and that it was about 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Time: 13:00-17:00

Observations and Questions:
The tide was rather high. The water’s edge was about 50 yards from the beginning of plant life. The beach was sandy. The sand was light gray in color. A ledge of about 1-2 feet rose where the plants started to grow. I would guess that the plant roots stabilized the sand in that area while the wind blew the sand below the plants away. I do not know why the distance between the plants and the water was so much greater than other nearby beaches (such as Washaway Beach, which is being washed away because dredges are no longer being made).
Plant variety along the bank facing the ocean: Most of the plants were low lying and hardy. European Beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria) and Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius) were the most abundant. The scotch broom growing closes to the ocean grew about 1 foot tall. Further inland the Scotch Broom grew taller (about 6 feet max). The Scotch Broom freshly bloomed, but there were periodic dead stalks. I identified the European Beachgrass by the lack of a stout, erect spike (which Dunegrass has, the only other option for grass type). Also, my pojar book says that the “glumes and lemmas usually very soft-hairy” (364); this grass did not have this attribute. A few Lupine grew close to the ground amid the grass and Scotch Broom. It was not blooming. I’m not sure whether the lupine is a Seashore Lupine (Lupinus littoralis) or Small-flowered Lupine (Lupinus polycarpus). The Lupine grew close to the ground like the Seashore Lupine, but the leaves did not look as stubby as that of Seashore Lupine; it could have just been a young Small-flowered Lupine. The leaves grew in clumps of 7-8 (at least the ones I counted), which fits both varieties. The taller growing plants/shrubs were Evergreen Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum), Hooker’s Willow (Salix hookeriana), and Shore Pine (Pinus contorta var. contorta). All the West-facing sides of these shrubs were bare of leaves. The Evergreen huckleberry was blooming. The Hooker’s Willow’s white tufts were not tight little balls, but elongated and flaky/whispy.
Other life along the same bank: Ladybugs (Coccinellidae), probably about a hundred, were in about 2 feet radius.
Shells: On the beach, close to the water line, I came across Dungeness crab shells and what might have belonged to Margarites pupillus. The crab shells were not attached to bodies or claws, but I did see a few scattered claws.
Birds: There were very few birds out. I saw probably only two seagulls total. One of them was very far away so I could not see it clearly. The seagull that I saw more clearly was all white except for the wings. The wings were a light gray in color, slightly speckled with white. Does this speckled-ness perhaps suggest it was a young bird?
Farther inland where the gravel road (leading to the beach) meets the sand: The brush becomes much denser and taller shrubs and trees become more common. The most common tree was the Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis). Right along the gravel there was Field Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) and Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella), and what was possibly Sweet Vernalgrass (Anthoxanthum odoratum). I saw a bright, metallic blue fly land on a piece of grass. I have no idea what it was doing. Maybe just resting? I also saw an ant hill (Formica obscuriventris). I did not see many, if any, ants carrying food to the hill. The hill was very active.
I also saw a Cabbage Butterfly (Pieris brassicae) flying alongside the road.

Species list:

-Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)
-Ladybug (Coccinellidae)
-Seashore Lupine (Lupinus littoralis) or Small-flowered Lupine (Lupinus polycarpus)
-European Beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria)
-Evergreen Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum)
-Hooker’s Willow (Salix hookeriana)
-Shore Pine (Pinus contorta var. contorta)
-Evergreen Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum)
-Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)
-Dungeness Crab (Metacarcinus magister)
-Field Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense)
-Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella)
-Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)
-Ant (Formica obscuriventris)
-Blue Fly (Eudasyphora)
-Sweet Vernalgrass (Anthoxanthum odoratum) (?)
-Cabbage Butterfly (Pieris brassicae)

-Unknown shell (Margarites pupillus perhaps?)

Posted on May 28, 2012 07:25 PM by chimeravo chimeravo

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius)

Observer

chimeravo

Date

May 12, 2012

Description

Scotch broom grew everywhere amid the grass. It was in full bloom. The plant grew taller farther inland (I'd guess because of more wind blockage). I found ladybugs on almost every Scotch Broom I encountered.

Photos / Sounds

What

Lupines (Genus Lupinus)

Observer

chimeravo

Date

May 12, 2012

Description

The Lupine was young. All of its leaves were thin and small (just a couple inches in length max). It was not flowering. Leaves grew in clumps of 7-8. The stalks were very hairy and the leaves only slightly. I think it is probably a small-flowered Lupine for the reasons stated in my Daily account, but I am definitely not certain. I do not think I would be

Photos / Sounds

What

Evergreen Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum)

Observer

chimeravo

Date

May 12, 2012

Description

The leaves are alternating. The bush was 6 ft tall. The wind side (West side) of the bush was mostly leafless and flowerless. The bush was blooming. I saw no bees. I saw no bees in sight. Are these flowers pollinated by bees or moths? Do they need to be in order to reproduce?

Photos / Sounds

What

Shore Pine (Pinus contorta var. contorta)

Observer

chimeravo

Date

May 12, 2012

Description

The young shore pines were about 5-8ft tall. The older ones were 8-17ft tall. One tree was completely dead (the picture showing the pine cone). THe bark on it was completely cleared about 7 feet up. I wonder what cleared the bark.

Photos / Sounds

What

Coastal Willow (Salix hookeriana)

Observer

chimeravo

Date

May 12, 2012

Description

Leaves were sparse. The branches have a slightly purplish tint. What exactly are the white tufts? Have these already flowered?

Photos / Sounds

What

Seven-spotted Lady Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata)

Observer

chimeravo

Date

May 12, 2012

Description

How does one tell the difference between the males and the females? What determine the number of spots one of these beetles has? How come the spots on one wing are identical to those on the other wing (making it symmetrical)? Why are they bright red?

I have noticed before that they let out an orange juice stuff that stinks. I assume its a defense mechanism against predators, so that predators wont want to eat them (I think I had a kids book about this when I was little). Are there any other uses for the juice? Do they all have it? Where does the juice come from?

Photos / Sounds

What

Dungeness Crab (Metacarcinus magister)

Observer

chimeravo

Date

May 12, 2012

Description

There were quite a few shells of Dungeness crab on the beach, and sometimes claws. Is there a season that crabs lose their shell? Do they shed their shell when a larger ones grows beneath? Or do they shed their shells when they die? Or both?

Photos / Sounds

What

Channeled Basket Snail (Caesia fossata)

Observer

chimeravo

Date

May 12, 2012

Description

I'm not sure what type of creature this shell belonged to. One of the shells had a small circular hole in its side. I think maybe a starfish ate the shell's contents.

Normally I see lots of sand dollars at this beach, but perhaps its not the right season to see those?

Photos / Sounds

What

Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)

Observer

chimeravo

Date

May 12, 2012

Description

The needles are pointy. The tips of the branches are budding. The trunk is more knobbly and the whole tree is more gnarly than those I see farther inland (like those protected in forests), probably due to the constant beating it gets from the wind.

Photos / Sounds

What

Sweet Vernal Grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum)

Observer

chimeravo

Date

May 12, 2012

Description

These grew in a gravelly area alongside the road. They were seeding. Do grass have what are called "flowers" per say?

Photos / Sounds

What

Sheep's Sorrel (Rumex acetosella)

Observer

chimeravo

Date

May 12, 2012

Description

The Sheep's Sorrel only grew alongside the road in the gravel/clay. It must be less durable (wind resistant) than the plants seen directly on the beach since it does not grow there. Maybe it needs more nitrogen too.

Photos / Sounds

What

Shepherd's Cress (Teesdalia nudicaulis)

Observer

chimeravo

Date

May 12, 2012

Description

I used the leaf shape to help me identify it. They bloomed little white flowers. These too grew along the gravel road.

Photos / Sounds

What

Calyptrate Flies (Zoosubsection Calyptratae)

Observer

chimeravo

Date

May 12, 2012

Description

What purpose does the metallic color of this fly serve? The fly was probably about 1 cm long.

Photos / Sounds

What

Integra-group Field and Mound Ants (Complex Formica integra)

Observer

chimeravo

Date

May 12, 2012

Description

I saw an ant hill in the gravel next to the road. The top was completely covered wit little red and black ants (I know this is vague, but they were medium sixed ants. They were not nearly as big as flying black ants. They were probably about 1 cm long.) I didnt see many, if any, carrying food scraps. I wonder what they were doing. Also, this hill was less of a hill than just a small oval disc, like a pancake, on the ground.

Photos / Sounds

What

Small White (Pieris rapae)

Observer

chimeravo

Date

May 12, 2012

Description

The butterfly fluttered alongside the road. I did not see it stop. Can butterflies not fly on rainy days because their wings would be too weighted down? Or do they simply need to be warmer?
Where do butterflies hide out when it rains?

Comments

No comments yet.

Add a Comment

Sign In or Sign Up to add comments