Field Notes – Green Point Campground, September 10, 2013

by on September 24, 2013
<p>Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> September 9, 2013</p>

Foggy Forest

Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
September 9, 2013

<p><i>Oligocottus maculosus</i>, Cottidae<br /> Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> September 9, 2013</p>

Tidepool Sculpin

Oligocottus maculosus, Cottidae
Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
September 9, 2013

<p><i>Pagurus</i> sp., Paguridae<br /> Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> September 9, 2013</p>

Hermit Crab

Pagurus sp., Paguridae
Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
September 9, 2013

<p>Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> September 9, 2013</p>

Green Point Intertidal Zone

Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
September 9, 2013

<p><i>Nereocystis luetkeana</i>, Laminariaceae<br /> Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> September 9, 2013</p>

Bull Kelp Pneumatocyst

Nereocystis luetkeana, Laminariaceae
Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
September 9, 2013

<p>Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve,<br /> British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> September 9, 2013</p>

Hippies Love Bull Kelp

Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve,
British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
September 9, 2013

<p>Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve,<br /> British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> September 9, 2013</p>

Long Beach

Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve,
British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
September 9, 2013

<p><i>Ariolimax columbianus</i>, Ariolimacidae<br /> Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve,<br /> British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> September 10, 2013</p>

Pacific Banana Slug

Ariolimax columbianus, Ariolimacidae
Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve,
British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
September 10, 2013

<p><i>Pisaster ochraceus</i>, Asteriidae<br /> Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, <br /> British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> September 10, 2013</p>

Ochre Sea Star

Pisaster ochraceus, Asteriidae
Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve,
British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
September 10, 2013

<p><i>Pycnopodia helianthoides</i>, Asteriidae<br /> Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, <br /> British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> September 10, 2013</p>

Sunflower Sea Star

Pycnopodia helianthoides, Asteriidae
Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve,
British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
September 10, 2013

<p><i>Anthopleura xanthogrammica</i>, Actiniidae<br /> Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, <br /> British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> September 10, 2013</p>

Retracted Giant Green Anemone

Anthopleura xanthogrammica, Actiniidae
Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve,
British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
September 10, 2013

<p><i>Pollicipes polymerus</i>, Pollicipedidae<br /> Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br /> September 10, 2013</p>

Gooseneck Barnacle

Pollicipes polymerus, Pollicipedidae
Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
September 10, 2013

<p><i>Mytilus californianus</i>, Mytilidae<br /> Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br /> September 10, 2013</p>

California Mussel

Mytilus californianus, Mytilidae
Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
September 10, 2013

<p><i>Anthopleura elegantissima</i>, Actiniidae<br /> Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br /> September 10, 2013</p>

Aggregating Anemone

Anthopleura elegantissima, Actiniidae
Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
September 10, 2013

<p><i>Pleurobrachia</i> sp., Pleurobrachiidae<br /> Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, <br /> British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br /> September 10, 2013</p>

Sea Gooseberry

Pleurobrachia sp., Pleurobrachiidae
Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve,
British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
September 10, 2013

<p><i>Anthopleura xanthogrammica</i>, Actiniidae<br /> Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br /> September 10, 2013</p>

Giant Green Anemones

Anthopleura xanthogrammica, Actiniidae
Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
September 10, 2013

<p>Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8<br /> September 10, 2013</p>

Combers Beach

Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 105 mm f/2.8
September 10, 2013

<p><i>Calidris alba</i>, Scolopacidae<br /> Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, <br /> British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> September 10, 2013</p>

One Foot Running (Juvenile Sanderlings)

Calidris alba, Scolopacidae
Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve,
British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
September 10, 2013

<p><i>Calidris alba</i>, Scolopacidae<br /> Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, <br /> British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> September 10, 2013</p>

Juvenile Sanderling

Calidris alba, Scolopacidae
Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve,
British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
September 10, 2013

<p><i>Charadrius semipalmatus</i>, Charadriidae<br /> Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, <br /> British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> September 10, 2013</p>

Semipalmated Plover

Charadrius semipalmatus, Charadriidae
Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve,
British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
September 10, 2013

<p><i>Calidris alba</i>, Scolopacidae<br /> Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, <br /> British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> September 10, 2013</p>

Juvenile Sanderlings

Calidris alba, Scolopacidae
Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve,
British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
September 10, 2013

<p><i>Passerculus sandwichensis</i>, Emberizidae<br /> Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, <br /> British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> September 10, 2013</p>

Savannah Sparrow

Passerculus sandwichensis, Emberizidae
Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve,
British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
September 10, 2013

<p>Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, <br /> British Columbia, Canada<br /> Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6<br /> September 10, 2013</p>

Sunset over Box Island

Green Point Campground, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve,
British Columbia, Canada
Nikon D5100, 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6
September 10, 2013

Sara had a week off before she started her new job so we took a short trip out to Tofino. We were lucky enough to get a campsite at Green Point Campground with a great view of Long Beach. The sunset picture at the end of the set was actually taken right from our campsite. Long Beach is truly breathtaking locale with a sharp transition between the vast sandy beach and temperate rainforest.

Ever since she went to Bamfield for a field course, Sara has been very enthusiastic about the intertidal zone. Green Point provides a good variety of rocky tide pools so after a leisurely breakfast Sara and I spent low tide exploring the intertidal area and beaches around the campground. The tide pools were filled with sea life such as Sea Stars, Anemones, Hermit Crabs, California Mussels, and the aforementioned Gooseneck Barnacles. I feel I should really plug E-Fauna BC, which was a great help in the identification of the sea life. E-Fauna is a great resource for of all animal life in British Columbia. I really wish Alberta had a resource this extensive let alone one with photos.

In addition to the sea life I also had some interesting bird sightings / photographs. With it being September, we saw a number of migrant shorebirds including Piping Plovers, juvenile Western Sandpipers, a lone Least Sandpiper, and several large flocks of juvenile Sanderlings. With all these shorebirds it wasn’t surprising to see a Peregrine Falcon patrolling the beaches looking for a meal. There were also a several large groups of Savannah Sparrows working there way through the rocky areas around Green Point. Another highlight was the Steller Sea Lion colony we saw on an island off Combers Beach. We saw 14 species of birds on our three and half hours walk which covered almost 6 km. For a full list of our sightings see the KMZ file below.



View KMZ in Google Earth

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I’m a postdoc at the University of Washington. My research deals with the visual ecology of insects, such as butterflies, mosquitoes and other biting flies.

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