Semi-ah-moo Spit
Whatcom Co., WA
Site Description:
This
narrow spit is at the north end of Whatcom County. The east side
of the spit faces Drayton Harbor. The beach here is soft mud with
some cobble. Few species inhabit this section. The
west side of the spit faces Semi-ah-moo Bay which opens to the Strait
of Georgia. Semi-ah-moo Bay is essentially the southern end of
Boundary Bay in British Columbia.
The west side of the spit
becomes an extensive tide flat at low tide. There are a few small
boulders at the south end of the spit. The rest is all sand
except near the northernmost end it starts to become muddy.
Tidepools dot the sand at low tide and there are a few patches of
eelgrass.
Google Map
Extensive sand flats along west side of Spit 
Rocky patch on south end of Spit
Species List:
Following is a list of mollusk species observed at this
location by members and associates of the club. This is by no
means a complete list of the species which may occur at this site.
Revisions and additions to the data are made as we acquire new
information. When a site contains more than one very distinctive
type of habitat or if multiple sites were included in a single
location, then a
species list for each is included.
We indicate
frequency of occurrence based on our observations. This is an
indicator of how likely it is that you may be able to find this
species yourself and is not a formal population survey.
Frequency Code:
(Based on the assumption that you are looking in the appropriate
location where the species
likes to live - on rocks, in sand, etc. Some populations fluctuate seasonally. Ours are based
on the spring/summer seasons.)
[4] - Rare - very difficult to find, maybe only a couple found after repeated visits to the site
[3] - Uncommon - difficult to find, may not see on every trip but dedicated searching may turn up a few
[2] - Common - easy to find, should locate a number of them on any given day
[1] - Abundant - very easy to find, large numbers should be seen on every trip
Bivalves
Callithaca tenerrima [2]
Clinocardium nuttallii [1]
Crassostrea gigas [4]
Cryptomya californica [4]
Hiatella arctica [4]
Leukoma staminea [1]
Lucinoma annulatum [4]
Macoma balthica [4]
Macoma inquinata [2]
Macoma nasuta [2]
Macoma secta [2]
Mactromeris polynyma [4]
Modiolus rectus [3]
Mya arenaria [2]
Mytilus complex [2]
Nuttallia obscurata [1]
Pododesmus macrochisma [3]
Protothaca restorationensis [4]
Saxidomus gigantea [1]
Solen sicarius [4]
Tellina modesta [4]
Tresus capax [1]
Tresus nuttallii [2]
Venerupis philippinarum [1]
Gastropods
Alia carinata [1]
Batillaria attramentaria [1] (only on Drayton Harbor side)
Hima fratercula [3]
Hima mendica [3]
Lacuna variegata [2]
Lirabuccinum dirum [3]
Littorina scutulata [1]
Littorina sitkana [2]
Lottia parallela [2]
Lottia pelta [3]
Margarites pupillus [4]
Nucella lamellosa [2]
Odostomia sp. [4]
Chitons
Mopalia ferreirai [4]
Mopalia muscosa [4]
Tonicella lineata [4]
Nudibranchs
Dirona albolineata [4]
Haminoea vesicula [4]
Onchidella bilamellata [4]
This page last revised: 1-25-2011