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.