Alan Richards wrote:

>08/17/96
>
>I was on Whidbey Island with my wife Ann Musche', on
>8/3/96. There, on a sand and gravel beach near Greenbank,
>we saw several rather large jellyfish, dead on the beach,
>including one of radius 9 inches, and another of radius 11 inches.
>They were mostly clear, with large areas of rusty red or
>orangeish coloration, in approx ray-like shape. They were
>about 2 or 3 inches thick.
>
>We have seen jellyfish many times, usually velella, and always
>much smaller than this. We thought maybe they were Sea Blubber,
>Cyanea capillata, as described on p. 715 of Harper & Row's
>_Complete field Guide to N American Wildlife_.
>
>Does anyone in Tweeterland have any ideas about this, one way
>or the other? And, possibly, suggestions of books to check,
>especially for photos / illustrations?

I think that's the correct identification. There are more and more books
published about marine life in the area, but the old standby is by Eugene
Kozloff, Seashore Life, UW Press.

>---------------------
>PS -- Yes, we saw birds -- including many crows -- has anyone
>noted Ravens on Whidbey? What time of year / location? I have
>expected to see them there, but so far have not. Also what about
>Kestrels in this area? Have looked for them around agricultural
>areas, phone wires, etc., without success, at various times of
>year.

I've seen a lot of ravens on Whidbey, rarely more than a few per day, but,
it seems to me, almost anywhere. I've seen kestrels on occasion in the
larger open areas on the middle of the island.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone 206-756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax 206-756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416