Big Winter for Tiny Creatures

It's been a big winter for tiny crabs, shrimp and other creatures in the cold green waters of Puget Sound. Below are a few of my fav's of '22 so far. If you're able to look close enough, you can actually spot the pupils of the Blackeyed hermit eyes. Also, if you had to lug around a heavy shell, you'd probably catch a ride on a larger hermit to lighten the load.

The weather during January has allowed for minimal exploration below the surface. But I have been looking at the waters from Skyline Wall in Anacortes to Les Davis in Tacoma. Most of the animals I'm spotting and photographing are small to tiny. My Nauticam SMC is excellent for getting subjects only a millimeter or two in size. Shrimp are not my specialty, so if I've incorrectly named any of them, please feel free to correct me. As Winter turns to Spring in the coming months, Kelp and Eel grass beds will provide for food and shelter for many of the other amazing wildlife in our Puget Sound.