William Barnacle
@urchinartdesigns.bsky.social
Sometime sailor, diver, biologist, photographer, jeweler, and a beer every couple of weeks... you can call me "Bill".
This photo was taken off Palos Verdes Peninsula. It's a juvenile Garibaldi, the State Fish of CA. The adults are bright gold/yellow and aggressive so they are easy to picture but the juveniles are skittish so they won't stay still.
The adults will swim up to you if you get near their nest.
The adults will swim up to you if you get near their nest.
December 14, 2025 at 2:56 PM
This photo was taken off Palos Verdes Peninsula. It's a juvenile Garibaldi, the State Fish of CA. The adults are bright gold/yellow and aggressive so they are easy to picture but the juveniles are skittish so they won't stay still.
The adults will swim up to you if you get near their nest.
The adults will swim up to you if you get near their nest.
A Bat ray rests on the bottom near some kelp, or was resting until I came along.
Sometimes I don't want to get out of bed either but I have to...
Sometimes I don't want to get out of bed either but I have to...
December 13, 2025 at 4:37 PM
A Bat ray rests on the bottom near some kelp, or was resting until I came along.
Sometimes I don't want to get out of bed either but I have to...
Sometimes I don't want to get out of bed either but I have to...
Deck us all with Boston Charlie,
Walla Walla, Wash., an’ Kalamazoo!
Nora’s freezin’ on the trolley,
Swaller dollar cauliflower alley-garoo!
Don’t we know archaic barrel
Lullaby Lilla Boy, Louisville Lou?
Trolley Molly don’t love Harold,
Boola boola Pensacoola hullabaloo!
From Pogo by Walt Kelly
Walla Walla, Wash., an’ Kalamazoo!
Nora’s freezin’ on the trolley,
Swaller dollar cauliflower alley-garoo!
Don’t we know archaic barrel
Lullaby Lilla Boy, Louisville Lou?
Trolley Molly don’t love Harold,
Boola boola Pensacoola hullabaloo!
From Pogo by Walt Kelly
December 12, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Deck us all with Boston Charlie,
Walla Walla, Wash., an’ Kalamazoo!
Nora’s freezin’ on the trolley,
Swaller dollar cauliflower alley-garoo!
Don’t we know archaic barrel
Lullaby Lilla Boy, Louisville Lou?
Trolley Molly don’t love Harold,
Boola boola Pensacoola hullabaloo!
From Pogo by Walt Kelly
Walla Walla, Wash., an’ Kalamazoo!
Nora’s freezin’ on the trolley,
Swaller dollar cauliflower alley-garoo!
Don’t we know archaic barrel
Lullaby Lilla Boy, Louisville Lou?
Trolley Molly don’t love Harold,
Boola boola Pensacoola hullabaloo!
From Pogo by Walt Kelly
This old fellow is a Sheep Crab that's reached his terminal molt, lost one pincher, and growing algae on his back, but he still comes into shallow water for the breeding season.
This crab is half the size of the younger ones around but he's still game.
This crab is half the size of the younger ones around but he's still game.
December 12, 2025 at 3:07 PM
This old fellow is a Sheep Crab that's reached his terminal molt, lost one pincher, and growing algae on his back, but he still comes into shallow water for the breeding season.
This crab is half the size of the younger ones around but he's still game.
This crab is half the size of the younger ones around but he's still game.
Here's a 2nd pic of the Skagit River this morning. It's 32' deep downstream at the gauge near Mt Vernon, WA. More water on the way.
December 11, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Here's a 2nd pic of the Skagit River this morning. It's 32' deep downstream at the gauge near Mt Vernon, WA. More water on the way.
Here's pic of the Skagit River between Concrete & Hamilton WA showing the river flooding.
It isn't supposed to crest until tomorrow a couple more feet of water is coming. One log I saw two days ago had a raccoon on it as it travelled down the River to the Sound.
It isn't supposed to crest until tomorrow a couple more feet of water is coming. One log I saw two days ago had a raccoon on it as it travelled down the River to the Sound.
December 11, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Here's pic of the Skagit River between Concrete & Hamilton WA showing the river flooding.
It isn't supposed to crest until tomorrow a couple more feet of water is coming. One log I saw two days ago had a raccoon on it as it travelled down the River to the Sound.
It isn't supposed to crest until tomorrow a couple more feet of water is coming. One log I saw two days ago had a raccoon on it as it travelled down the River to the Sound.
A Gorgonian on the reef at Coal Oil Pt. is brightly colored. It's a soft coral that's a colonial organism. The California Golden Coral is called Muricea californica.
December 11, 2025 at 3:36 PM
A Gorgonian on the reef at Coal Oil Pt. is brightly colored. It's a soft coral that's a colonial organism. The California Golden Coral is called Muricea californica.
A C/O Turbot glides smoothly under a blade of red alga called a Turkish Towel hoping the photographer isn't dangerous. It need not worry since I gave up spearfishing long before this.
This was taken not far from Arroyo Burro Beach, popular with families but known for high bacterial counts.
This was taken not far from Arroyo Burro Beach, popular with families but known for high bacterial counts.
December 10, 2025 at 3:49 PM
A C/O Turbot glides smoothly under a blade of red alga called a Turkish Towel hoping the photographer isn't dangerous. It need not worry since I gave up spearfishing long before this.
This was taken not far from Arroyo Burro Beach, popular with families but known for high bacterial counts.
This was taken not far from Arroyo Burro Beach, popular with families but known for high bacterial counts.
A recently settled Navanax inermis, a predatory sea slug that eats other sea slugs, glides along a blade of Giant Kelp.
Kelp provides more food, it provides shelter, sequesters carbon from the sea, and supplies products like thickener for ice cream. Kelp beds protect coastlines from storm surge too
Kelp provides more food, it provides shelter, sequesters carbon from the sea, and supplies products like thickener for ice cream. Kelp beds protect coastlines from storm surge too
December 9, 2025 at 3:37 PM
A recently settled Navanax inermis, a predatory sea slug that eats other sea slugs, glides along a blade of Giant Kelp.
Kelp provides more food, it provides shelter, sequesters carbon from the sea, and supplies products like thickener for ice cream. Kelp beds protect coastlines from storm surge too
Kelp provides more food, it provides shelter, sequesters carbon from the sea, and supplies products like thickener for ice cream. Kelp beds protect coastlines from storm surge too
Coral reefs have orchestrated Earth’s climate for 250 million years" from the theconversation.com/coral-reefs-...
"In phases when reefs dominate, recovery slows because shallow seas trap the dissolved minerals, known as ions (Ca ions), that would help the ocean absorb carbon"
250 m yrs old system
"In phases when reefs dominate, recovery slows because shallow seas trap the dissolved minerals, known as ions (Ca ions), that would help the ocean absorb carbon"
250 m yrs old system
December 8, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Coral reefs have orchestrated Earth’s climate for 250 million years" from the theconversation.com/coral-reefs-...
"In phases when reefs dominate, recovery slows because shallow seas trap the dissolved minerals, known as ions (Ca ions), that would help the ocean absorb carbon"
250 m yrs old system
"In phases when reefs dominate, recovery slows because shallow seas trap the dissolved minerals, known as ions (Ca ions), that would help the ocean absorb carbon"
250 m yrs old system
Long before the Sea Star Wasting Disease appeared I took some photos & a video of a Giant Spiny Sea Star spawning near Tajiguas CA.
Here's one of the pics. I can load the video up later on when the option is available.
Here's one of the pics. I can load the video up later on when the option is available.
December 8, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Long before the Sea Star Wasting Disease appeared I took some photos & a video of a Giant Spiny Sea Star spawning near Tajiguas CA.
Here's one of the pics. I can load the video up later on when the option is available.
Here's one of the pics. I can load the video up later on when the option is available.
A large Brittle Star, Ophioderma panamense, navigating the ocean floor between two Red Urchins near Coal Oil Pt.
I've not seen any news regarding their population. During the Sea Star Wasting period I mean. Were Brittle Stars affected by the disease like Pisaster & Pycnopodia were?
I've not seen any news regarding their population. During the Sea Star Wasting period I mean. Were Brittle Stars affected by the disease like Pisaster & Pycnopodia were?
December 7, 2025 at 3:48 PM
A large Brittle Star, Ophioderma panamense, navigating the ocean floor between two Red Urchins near Coal Oil Pt.
I've not seen any news regarding their population. During the Sea Star Wasting period I mean. Were Brittle Stars affected by the disease like Pisaster & Pycnopodia were?
I've not seen any news regarding their population. During the Sea Star Wasting period I mean. Were Brittle Stars affected by the disease like Pisaster & Pycnopodia were?
A Rockpool Blenny looks out from his home (an old boring clam burrow) to see who's making all that noise.
The reefs where this guy lives are composed of Monterey Shale and digging into the rock releases odors of coal oil. Indeed, this photo was taken at Coal Oil Point in shallow water, perhaps 20'
The reefs where this guy lives are composed of Monterey Shale and digging into the rock releases odors of coal oil. Indeed, this photo was taken at Coal Oil Point in shallow water, perhaps 20'
December 6, 2025 at 4:18 PM
A Rockpool Blenny looks out from his home (an old boring clam burrow) to see who's making all that noise.
The reefs where this guy lives are composed of Monterey Shale and digging into the rock releases odors of coal oil. Indeed, this photo was taken at Coal Oil Point in shallow water, perhaps 20'
The reefs where this guy lives are composed of Monterey Shale and digging into the rock releases odors of coal oil. Indeed, this photo was taken at Coal Oil Point in shallow water, perhaps 20'
A Spanish Shawl nudibranch leans out on some red algae searching for prey, Hydroids.
This nudibranch saves the stinging cells from the Hydroids and stores them in the gills lining the back so if a fish tried eating it, then the fish gets a mouthful of Hydroid nematocysts!
This nudibranch saves the stinging cells from the Hydroids and stores them in the gills lining the back so if a fish tried eating it, then the fish gets a mouthful of Hydroid nematocysts!
December 5, 2025 at 3:12 PM
A Spanish Shawl nudibranch leans out on some red algae searching for prey, Hydroids.
This nudibranch saves the stinging cells from the Hydroids and stores them in the gills lining the back so if a fish tried eating it, then the fish gets a mouthful of Hydroid nematocysts!
This nudibranch saves the stinging cells from the Hydroids and stores them in the gills lining the back so if a fish tried eating it, then the fish gets a mouthful of Hydroid nematocysts!
A Mermaid's Purse attached to a kelp holdfast.
I love seeing these. It's a Swell Shark Egg case with an embryo. Sometimes I get lucky and see one with the shark developing inside, alive and kicking.
If it wasn't for the oceans then I probably would have never have had as much fun as I have.
I love seeing these. It's a Swell Shark Egg case with an embryo. Sometimes I get lucky and see one with the shark developing inside, alive and kicking.
If it wasn't for the oceans then I probably would have never have had as much fun as I have.
December 4, 2025 at 3:30 PM
A Mermaid's Purse attached to a kelp holdfast.
I love seeing these. It's a Swell Shark Egg case with an embryo. Sometimes I get lucky and see one with the shark developing inside, alive and kicking.
If it wasn't for the oceans then I probably would have never have had as much fun as I have.
I love seeing these. It's a Swell Shark Egg case with an embryo. Sometimes I get lucky and see one with the shark developing inside, alive and kicking.
If it wasn't for the oceans then I probably would have never have had as much fun as I have.
This landed on my glove one day while working off an area known as Tajiguas, along the coast NW of Santa Barbara.
It's a juvenile anemone, possible Telia or Epiactis spp., I think.
It's a juvenile anemone, possible Telia or Epiactis spp., I think.
December 3, 2025 at 3:32 PM
This landed on my glove one day while working off an area known as Tajiguas, along the coast NW of Santa Barbara.
It's a juvenile anemone, possible Telia or Epiactis spp., I think.
It's a juvenile anemone, possible Telia or Epiactis spp., I think.
Here's a Scorpionfish. A fish with grooved spines and toxic glands that ago into action if a predator tries to swallow one.
Scorpionfish are ambush predators, using their coloration, stillness they wait for a meal to swim up to them.
This one was photographed at about 25' of depth on Coal Oil Pt
Scorpionfish are ambush predators, using their coloration, stillness they wait for a meal to swim up to them.
This one was photographed at about 25' of depth on Coal Oil Pt
December 2, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Here's a Scorpionfish. A fish with grooved spines and toxic glands that ago into action if a predator tries to swallow one.
Scorpionfish are ambush predators, using their coloration, stillness they wait for a meal to swim up to them.
This one was photographed at about 25' of depth on Coal Oil Pt
Scorpionfish are ambush predators, using their coloration, stillness they wait for a meal to swim up to them.
This one was photographed at about 25' of depth on Coal Oil Pt
Here's a juvenile California Sea Hare, traveling past a Sunburst anemone.
The Summer before this photo was taken there had a small but significant fire 14 miles up the coast and tons of sticky mud washed down the coast, smothering reefs that had been stable for 3 decades or more.
The Summer before this photo was taken there had a small but significant fire 14 miles up the coast and tons of sticky mud washed down the coast, smothering reefs that had been stable for 3 decades or more.
December 1, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Here's a juvenile California Sea Hare, traveling past a Sunburst anemone.
The Summer before this photo was taken there had a small but significant fire 14 miles up the coast and tons of sticky mud washed down the coast, smothering reefs that had been stable for 3 decades or more.
The Summer before this photo was taken there had a small but significant fire 14 miles up the coast and tons of sticky mud washed down the coast, smothering reefs that had been stable for 3 decades or more.
Spawning Purple Urchins. Recent research concludes " leads us to propose that the sea urchin nervous system in its entirety comprises an “all-brain” rather than a “no-brain” . From Single-nucleus profiling highlights the all-brain echinoderm nervous system.
#addOcean
#addOcean
November 30, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Spawning Purple Urchins. Recent research concludes " leads us to propose that the sea urchin nervous system in its entirety comprises an “all-brain” rather than a “no-brain” . From Single-nucleus profiling highlights the all-brain echinoderm nervous system.
#addOcean
#addOcean
OK, I'll try a second time since I don't see the photo on the first try (too large at a couple of megabytes?).
It's a Rock Scallop eyeing a couple of Mexichromis.
"#addOcean"
It's a Rock Scallop eyeing a couple of Mexichromis.
"#addOcean"
November 29, 2025 at 4:19 PM
OK, I'll try a second time since I don't see the photo on the first try (too large at a couple of megabytes?).
It's a Rock Scallop eyeing a couple of Mexichromis.
"#addOcean"
It's a Rock Scallop eyeing a couple of Mexichromis.
"#addOcean"
It's still kinda early but I thought I would introduce myself with a picture of Aldisa sanguinea aka The Blood Spot Nudibranch. It was taken long ago near Coal Oil Point, CA near UCSB.
The area where this was taken is now a Marine Reserve. And yes, there's a lot of oil on the water there.
The area where this was taken is now a Marine Reserve. And yes, there's a lot of oil on the water there.
November 29, 2025 at 3:56 PM
It's still kinda early but I thought I would introduce myself with a picture of Aldisa sanguinea aka The Blood Spot Nudibranch. It was taken long ago near Coal Oil Point, CA near UCSB.
The area where this was taken is now a Marine Reserve. And yes, there's a lot of oil on the water there.
The area where this was taken is now a Marine Reserve. And yes, there's a lot of oil on the water there.