With ocean temperatures quite warm recently (in the 17-18°C or 62-64°F range) and with El Niño conditions present in the Pacific Ocean, we're keeping an eye out for more southern/warm-water species.
Above is a piece of a Purple-striped Jelly (Chrysaora colorata) that we encountered at Limantour Beach on 26 August 2023. (To see an entire individual, see the post called "Southern drifter?" on 27 July 2014.
We also came across this wooden pallet covered with pelagic gooseneck barnacles (Lepas sp.). These barnacles aren't necessarily associated with warm water, but they are typically found offshore, so seeing them on the beach indicates that offshore species are appearing closer to the coast.
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