Tag: Tide Pooling
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Too Small To See
Most animals that live in the intertidal are small on most scales. Certainly on the human scale, you won’t often find anything that isn’t several dozen times smaller than you. I rather like this aspect of the tide pools, but even I must admit that some animals are simply too small. I don’t mean the…
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One Tide Pool
Like any other “seek and find” hobby (bird watching, fossil hunting, coin collecting, etc), tide pooling often feels like you hit the jackpot or you’re wasting your time. While it might seem like I only ever hit jackpots, remember I chose what I share on this blog. I just don’t write often about times I…
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The “Sand Ploughman” That Travels the World
In the winter and shoulder seasons around the world, observant beachgoers might notice a mostly white, speedy little bird foraging in the wet sand or sleeping in groups nestled higher on the shore. The less observant beachgoer might only be startled when a small flock of birds with sandy-gray backs that were camouflaged in the…
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What is the Plural of Octopus?
It’s time to settle a debate. One of the most fun creatures to see in the tide pools is an octopus. I’ve even seen two octopi (or octopuses?) nestled together. But what do you call multiple of these animals? Before we begin, I should say that both of the above terms are acceptable, and even…
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Tide Pooling Log: Pre-Dawn Summer Low Tide in Orange County
Pre-dawn summer low tides are some of the best of the year in Southern California. You can avoid the crowds and the heat while getting the warm water summer species during an excellent low tide. I took advantage of several of the low tides in June this year. Check out this article from my trip…
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California’s Forgotten Seahare: The Taylor’s Seahare
You know I love a cryptic species, the incredibly specialized that perfectly match their surroundings and are difficult to spot. The cryptic corambes are some of my favorite nudibranchs; the Taylor’s seahare, or zebra leaf slug, is one of my favorite seahares. Both the common names above are recognized for this species, along with a…
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Tide Pooling Log: Ventura County in Early June
Summer in California brings extremely low tides, but only in the very early hours of the morning. While not great for sleep schedules, these tides offer a great opportunity to see nocturnal animals you won’t see during the day and a chance to visit the intertidal without the crowds that daytime low tides bring. I…
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Cold Water Bias
When I show people photos of the animals I love from the intertidal, I frequently get the response, “I had no idea we had such colorful animals in California.” And while at first, I thought it was just a couple people here and there, I soon began to realize that this is a pervading thought…
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How to Edit Intertidal Photos: Blackwater Photography
Taking photos at the tide pools is one of avid tide poolers’ favorite ways to document what they see. In this post, I’m going to walk you through how to turn your favorite tide pool photographs into blackwater photography. If you’re new here, check out my series about how to improve your tide pool photography…
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Tide Pooling Log: Corona Del Mar, December
To be quite honest, I prefer tide pooling at night. While often the cold and darkness can make logistics harder, the animals you see are so worth it. There is nothing quite like being on the rocks at night with all the nocturnal animals emerging from their hiding places just after dusk. Recently, we visited…
About the blog
The Tidepooler is a blog focused on education and information about the tide pools and rocky shore environments along the coasts of the world’s oceans. With more understanding and enthusiasm, these important ecosystems can be sustainably explored for science, curiosity, and appreciation of their beauty.
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The Tide Is Out 