Minus tides and a camera

Every few months we get minus tides in Puget Sound. What is a minus tide you might ask? Good question, and I will try to answer it the est that I can. The water level in the oceans is measured in feet. The mean level of the water is said to be at zero feet. High tides around here can be up to 12' and a low tide could "normally" be down to 1-2'. Every few months the lunar gravity pulls more water away from our area then causing a low tide to get down to -2.5' When this happens a lot of sea life can get stranded in a tide pool making for some great discoveries for man and animals.



Here is a look at the minus tide at Alki Beach in West Seattle



I spent many hours on Monday at Alki Beach just wandering around and taking in the sights. In my wanderings I came across a pair of Bald Eagles.





On Tuesday I spent even more time at Discovery Park. I had never seen the tide so low here before and I was very impressed. After looking for something along a bluff way and not finding it (it was a memory from months ago) I ventured out onto the tide flats and enjoyed the beautiful day and looking forward to the things I might see.



I came upon a Blue Heron fishing in a tide pool.











I finally left the Heron and walked along until I came upon some rocks that were sure to have some sea life hiding amongst them. I was not disappointed either.







There were other things too, but I don't want to make anybody lose their lunch.
The minus tides are always a hit with Seattleites and tourists alike. Both days that I enjoyed I saw a few different groups of school kids on a field trip learning about the sea life that we are lucky enough to have so close to home.