WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: Nighttime low-low-tide exploring at Constellation Park

February 18, 2023 9:04 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

As mentioned in our Event Calendar and daily preview list, Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are out at Constellation Park right now, helping people explore what’s in view because of the nighttime low-low-tide. Thanks to Sara for sending photos!

They’re scheduled to be out until 10 pm – just look for the canopy, and the people on the beach, at 60th and Beach Drive.

But tread lightly – low tides like this one expose sealife that’s usually submerged.

P.S. The naturalists won’t be out, but tomorrow night the tide will be just as low at 10:18 pm, -2.5 feet.

12 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: Nighttime low-low-tide exploring at Constellation Park"

Molly February 18, 2023 (9:11 pm)

It was an amazing night for it!
- Ferns February 18, 2023 (11:45 pm)
  
  Yes, it was so cool to see all the headlamps bobbing around from further way, and wonder what was going on. I stumbled upon it and was wearing firm-soled shoes by chance, so I went onto the beach and spotted many starfish and a small crab where others had gathered with their lights. grateful for the aquarium and its volunteers who engage the public.
Midi February 18, 2023 (11:32 pm)

Such a fun night out on Alki!
- junction resident February 19, 2023 (12:10 am)
  
  Great picture! Didn’t know this was happening tonight so I’m glad I came across your comment to get a small glimpse :)
  - WSB February 19, 2023 (12:25 am)
    
    Just so everyone knows where they may have missed the info … it’s been in our event calendar for several weeks, and almost every day we publish a reminder list with all the cool stuff on the calendar. On the weekend that goes live around 6:30 am. Keeping the only “almost everything happening in WS” calendar is a big part of our job. I’m sure the aquarium probably has some kind of mailing list for notification, too; when the weather warms up, they do this in the daytime during summer’s lowest tides. – TR
    - junction resident February 19, 2023 (8:35 pm)
      
      Thanks WSB! I usually check the blog daily but have been slacking lately which is why I missed the announcement but this definitely helped remind me to not forget to read my morning paper :) You guys are great!
Jon February 19, 2023 (7:57 am)

Great time last night! Thanks WSB for spreading the word, and much thanks to the naturalists who shared so much information! Found this little fish (no naturalist nearby to ask); Does anyone know what this is?
- Patrick H. February 19, 2023 (11:31 am)
  
  Howdy! Former Senior Marine Science Educator at the Seattle Aquarium here. This is a really cool find! It’s a little hard to tell based on the angle, but it looks like you a have a member of the poacher family there. Also known as alligatorfish, there are about 17 different species recorded in the Salish Sea. It would take a few pictures at different angles to know for sure, but based on overall shape and proportions it could be a blacktip poacher, smootheye poacher, or blue spotted poacher. Based on the typical length of the eelgrass blades, which are abundant in the background of your picture, I think the fish is too big to be a pygmy poacher. Salish Sea poachers are known to lay eggs this time of year. This individual may have been up in the eelgrass looking for a place to attach their sticky clutch of eggs to. Eelgrass like we have at constellation is a really important nursery habitat for dozens of fish species. Thank you for treading lightly on the beach and for sharing that this awesome critter calls it home.
  - Jon Olszowy February 19, 2023 (6:12 pm)
    
    Here is another picture of the fish.
Bill February 19, 2023 (11:16 am)

Looks like a Blacktip Poacher, good find.
Bill February 19, 2023 (1:26 pm)

Blacktip Poacher
Richard Wilson February 20, 2023 (9:28 am)

Interesting stuff. Thanks

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