What are some of your favorite sea creatures, and where do they live? I love the beaches in Oregon that have seals that bask right in the sun. I was surprised that they don't smell (no offense to seals but for some reason I pictured them smelling fishy). The water on those beaches is *freezing* though! I was there in Summer of 2001 when I was about 12 years old, and the water couldn't have been more than 60F. It sure was a surprise when I went wading (way too cold to swim; I didn't know that the water on the west coast aside from SoCal is cold year round), but it was fun anyway.

Also in Oregon I saw strange creatures that were shaped like roly-polys/pill bugs, but they lived in the water and were "invisible", like ghost shrimp.

In Alabama where I'm from, I remember seening tiny crabs no bigger than a half inch scuttling around on the beach there; I remember the water there being almost hot.

I didn't see any wildlife besides seabirds when I was at the beach in New Jersey on New Year's Eve in 2006, but I'm sure they were there somewhere, just out of view.

I hear Maine has seals, but I didn't see any when I went; maybe they stay out of the city.

BEACH???? What the heck is a beach, LOL LOL. Just Kidding, it's a cute topic to pick Ralph. I am so far away from a beach that if I used my imagination really hard I might be able to picture a whale frolicking in the waves, then I look out my window and think WHAT IS A BEACH?????????

:lol: Do you live in the Great Plains or maybe in Saskatchewan? Zone 2 winters must be frigid; I don't think I could handle cold like that.

Edit: Nevermind! I found you live in BC. That isn't as far from the ocean as I pictured! I live in Tennessee and there aren't any beaches here either either of course (except a few lakes). Lots of grass and giant hills but I really miss the way sea breezes smell like in Maine. :P

Ralph, I live in Oregon about 150 miles more or less from the beach and yes that water is cold! It's cold because it comes down from where KK lives! :lol:
My favorite sea animal (if you want to call it that) is the Snow Plover (sp). It's a little bird that runs in and out with the waves. You used to see lots of them at the beach but not so much anymore. :( I could watch them for hours. It was calming for me :) We do get 80 degree F weather at the beach and there are people that swim in the ocean even in the winter. I think there is something very wrong with them. :rolleyes: I am not sure what you saw in the water there. I will have to do a seach b/c you have me curious about it :)

ahaha when you mentioned ocean swimming in winter it reminded me of when I jumped in the water in NJ. It was frigid and I guesstimate (I really don't know) it was maybe 50ish. I only got in knee-deep and for just a few seconds. I was visiting my girlfriend at the time and her dad wanted to stay in the car and listen to some game while we went out on the shore, and he didn't believe I went in till he saw the recording.

I didn't even try in Maine (I went there last december). Some of the water in Casco bay was frozen.

Edit: Also that bird sounds neat. Do they just live on the west coast?

Ralph, all I know about the bird is that it is endangered or threatened in our area.
It's a cute little bird that I would hate to see disappear. Here is a link to some pics and more info about the bird. There is also a sound clip of their song:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds...owy_Plover.html

That's very sad. :( I see they live on the Gulf and inland too. They are a pretty bird and I'd also hate to have them go extinct. I love those speckled eggs.

Some of my favorite sea animals would be beavers (not really beachy, but aquaticey) which I have seen in upstate new york, and definetly seals which I have seen in new hampshire. I've always wanted to see a sea otter in the wild, they look so amazing! The only sea otters I have ever seen were in a discovery chanel documentery.

LOL How did you find that one out Ralph?

:lol: Walked past them of course.

Are the beaches nice in New Hampshire? I haven't spent any real time in New England except Connecticut (visiting my aunt) and Maine (convinced my granddad to take me); the rest was just drive-through on the freeway in my granddad's car at 45-50 miles an hour... I about slept through the trip to be honest.