We all know someone or have heard of countless humans facing ruin or heartbreak from Covid-19. Before I share what I’ve been up I want to acknowledge Covid-related suffering everywhere and express my gratitude that I have a job that keeps me safe, and that no one close to me has contracted the disease.
My visits to the shore have been scant since March when I started to grasp where Covid was going. I’ve been out a little though. Here are two shots from the beach featuring surf zone inhabitants I admire. Surfperches were my gateway to theoutershores.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Juvenileredtail surfperch, Amphistichus rhodoterus
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Female silver surfperch, Hyperprosopon ellipticum | Beautiful orange slash on the anal fin
The rocky intertidal deserves its mention too. I bring you lovely acorn barnacles, Balanus glandula, and a small but hopeful Pisaster.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Once tiny nauplii awash in the plankton | Multiple size classes indicate successive waves of settlement
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.“I want to eat you”
Staying safe gave me a chance to update my About theoutershores page, something I’ve had on my mind for months. One of the more trivial but creative things I’ve accomplished is updating theoutershores’ logo. It doesn’t have a big presence on my site; you see it only on my homepage sidebar (and you have to scroll down a way to find it!). I got rid of the original version’s blue outline. It makes the logo look too much like a badge for my taste. And I replaced the original blue dorsal fins (I hope it’s clear these are three fish in the surf!) with more realistic reddish fins.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Before (2012-219)
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.After (starting in 2020)
Inspiration for the logo comes from the redtail surfperch. Redtails make their living in the surf zone. You can see the reddish-orange fins on this specimen, it’s a color I tried to match on the new version of the logo.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Male redtail surfperch, the model for the fish on theoutershores’ logo
I liked the updated logo enough to risk a small heat transfer on the upper left corner of my masks. I ordered hats too.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.The print shop failed to use my updated design! I’m grateful they at least snuck in the red finsImage may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Next time you see me on the beach I’ll be wearing one of these
