9 pm, September 24th, Frank Island. "Squid by flashlight"
9 pm, September 24th, Frank Island. Still very fresh.
9 pm, September 24th, Frank Island. This one sloshed around in the tide, I suspect and is quite abraded by the barnacle covered rocks in the intertidal zone.
8:30 am September 25, 2009. South side of Frank Island. The birds have already been at this squid. Unlike the August 2-3 stranding, the birds were on these guys right away. I think they remember them from before and know there is some good food encased in the thick white mantle!
September 25th, 2009. South side Frank Island. One of the larger squid - about 27" mantle length - not including arms and tentacles (the smallest of the 27 individuals I saw was 18" long)
September 25th, 2009. South side Frank Island. One of the few that still had eyes, just 15 hours or so after it washed ashore.
September 25th, 2009. South side Frank Island.
Opened one up to look in stomach.
Stomach is large whitish organ at right hand side of photo.
Contents were scales, bones, and dark red fish flesh - likely herring or sardine.
North Chesterman beach in the wrack line (September 25). You can see where amphipods were feeding, by the round white circles at the top of the mantle (right hand side of photo) and by all the disturbed sand around the edge of the squid.
Couldn't resist - this is NOT how the compostable doggie doo bags are supposed to work - you have to pick them up and take them to the garbage can still!!!!
