Sand-hoppers and fungi

September 24, 2026 - 2 mins read

Megalorchestia pugettensis

Over the summer I was transfixed by these tiny crustaceans I noticed on the beach. I noticed their movement and dozens upon dozens of tiny holes near the tideline.

Getting my nose down to the beach, I got a view of these miniscule sand-hoppers emerging, jumping about, and digging themselves back down into the sand. The species is probably Megalorchestia pugettensis.

A few days ago I read about some research that revealed they (or at least their Californian cousins) move vast quantities of sand – on par with coastal erosion. Read about it here: Tiny beach-dwelling crustaceans are big-time sand movers, shaping the California coast.

I also learned about the field of biogeomorphology. Absolutely fascinating.

With the weather starting to cool off and autumn rains starting, fungi are making their appearance. Here’s a few photos from a recent visit to Pacific Spirit Park.

Fluted Bird’s Nest Fungus (Cyathus striatus)

A close-up for Fluted Bird’s Nest Fungus (Cyathus striatus).

Fluted Bird’s Nest Fungus (Cyathus striatus )

The small patch of Cyathis striatus. It’s difficult to tell the scale in these photos, but each of these cups is 6-8 mm wide. They’re tiny and easy to miss.