Razor clams (Siliqua patula) are the signature shellfish associated with the west coast and Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. The long, exposed sandy beaches are perfect habitat for this surf-loving clam. In the national park, the stretch of Long Beach between Green Point and Schooner Cove is prime Pacific razor clam habitat. While live clams are difficult to view, if …
West Coast
Magnificent Mole Crabs on the West Coast!
Five years ago, Pacific mole crabs (Emerita analoga) appeared dramatically on the exposed beaches of Pacific Rim National Park. The huge numbers that showed up in 2016 was astounding. At the time, I wondered if they would survive and establish themselves. The odds seemed long. Prior to 2006, there had been sporadic reports of influxes of mole crabs (notably between …
Awe Inspring Avatar Grove
The main attraction at Avatar Grove, an ancient gnarly western redcedar. Avatar Grove is an awe inspiring grove of old growth western redcedar and huge Douglas-fir trees. It’s hard to describe the feeling in this quiet forest near Port Renfrew. The trees are immense, towering over a forest floor covered with a chaotic jumble of fallen moss-covered wood, deer fern, …
Book Review – Insects of the Pacific Northwest
Insects of the Pacific Northwest Peter and Judy Haggard Timber Press Inc. Paperback 296 pages 2006 Insects of the Pacific Northwest – Peter and Judy Haggard I’ve been fighting a bit of the flu lately which means that I’ve had some time to catch up on my reading and thinking about spring days searching for insects. One of the inspiring …
Roots on the Rough Route to Radar Hill Beach
Rocky headlands at Radar Hill Beach create dramatic vistas. Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is well known for its long sandy windswept beaches. Every year over 800,000 people visit this spectacular national park. If you truly want to experience the dramatic power of this landscape, the challenge is finding a place without many people. When visiting Pacific Rim I try …
A West Coast Giant
Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) grow to an average 70 meters in height although some are much taller. Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) is in the big leagues as far as trees are concerned, along with other west coast giants like Douglas-fir and western red cedar. To me, the very name “spruce” conjures up an Emily Carr-like image of a dark green, …
2010 West Coast Wildflower Calendar
Identify this British Columbian flower correctly and send me an email to be entered into a draw for a 2010 West Coast Wildflower Calendar. Contest closes November 30, 2009.And the winner is – Harri Harmaja of Finland who correctly identified the flower as Chamerion (Epilobium) latifolium or River Beauty. I’ve selected 12 of my wildflower images from Vancouver Island, British …