Shrimp City

 

Full moon low tide, Newport docks.

Just astern of my friend's skiff in the photo above...

...was a congregation of  these shrimp swimming and clinging to the bulkhead.

 I caught some...

...and while I haven't ID them to species level- I think perhaps they were sand shrimp.  

Breeding? Feeding?

 

 

Cornetfish and Many-ribbed Jellyfish

Don't see these many-ribbed jellyfish all year, and then today, Second Beach is littered with them washed ashore.

 

Then, two weekends ago, during the last Norman Bird Sanctuary public seine of the year at Third Beach, Tess and I were able to pull up this wild fish- a blue-spotted cornetfish. We got it over to Salve Regina University's biology lab fish tank straightaway.

 

Notice the scup and the Northern kingfish in the background. We seined them as well.

 

 

. Sorry about the poor photography.

Goodbye Old Friend

Well, it's over.

The third summer of the Minnow Aquarium on Third Beach is now concluded. This year was notable as the Norman Bird Sanctuary's Coastal Camp operated for six weeks this summer, up from two weeks last year. With this small army, we were able to witness some notable finds, nothing along the lines of last year's Night Sergeant, but exciting nonetheless.

Once I complete the tallies of fish and inverts I will post them.

So sad to get back to civilian life and bid those halycon days on the beach farewell. 

Salp Soup

 

Newport harbour is awash with these salps (Thalia democratica I think)

Plus there are the usual swarms of comb jellies and a hydromedusaae I can not identify.

 

 

Third Beach Coastal Camp Enemy #1

Lady Crab

   

Waterscorpion-should it be in saltwater?

Hello,

A Norman Bird Sanctuary Summer Camp counselor asked me what this animal was, found at "Crab Town" on Third Beach, Middletown. Wasn't sure, looked it up, and it turns out to be a waterscorpion (Ranatra sp.) Rare sight clearly, however the question is, should it have been in salt water? I think not.

 

 

Aquarium in Full Stride

The Minnow Aquarium is in full swing. Of the three years I have been operating it, this is by far and above the best season so far. There is way too much to cover in this post, however here are some photos.

Yours truly

Monthly DEM visit

Barrelfish

Banded rudderfish

Atlantic needlefish

Presumably a crevalle jack

Comb jelly

Any ideas? White perch perhaps?