Hundreds of thousands of Velella velella, more commonly known as by-the-wind-sailors, are drifting onto the coastline. Beachcombers say they look like "blue diamonds strewn across the beach."
Glittering blue creatures are washing up on California beaches. Here's why
Hundreds of thousands of Velella velella, more commonly known as by-the-wind-sailors, are drifting onto the coastline. Beachcombers say they look like "blue diamonds strewn across the beach."
www.npr.org
May 8, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Hundreds of thousands of Velella velella, more commonly known as by-the-wind-sailors, are drifting onto the coastline. Beachcombers say they look like "blue diamonds strewn across the beach."
That time of year again ~
April 18, 2026 at 2:53 AM
That time of year again ~
A By-the-Wind Sailor (Velella velella) skeleton.
Although it looks and feels like plastic, these are the organic remains of a colonial hydroid called a By-the-Wind Sailor. The ringed part is a floating base, and the clear fin acts as a sail, allowing winds to propel them across the ocean surface.
Although it looks and feels like plastic, these are the organic remains of a colonial hydroid called a By-the-Wind Sailor. The ringed part is a floating base, and the clear fin acts as a sail, allowing winds to propel them across the ocean surface.
June 7, 2025 at 6:59 PM
A By-the-Wind Sailor (Velella velella) skeleton.
Although it looks and feels like plastic, these are the organic remains of a colonial hydroid called a By-the-Wind Sailor. The ringed part is a floating base, and the clear fin acts as a sail, allowing winds to propel them across the ocean surface.
Although it looks and feels like plastic, these are the organic remains of a colonial hydroid called a By-the-Wind Sailor. The ringed part is a floating base, and the clear fin acts as a sail, allowing winds to propel them across the ocean surface.
Velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella etc
June 13, 2023 at 2:37 AM
Velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella velella etc
These small blue creatures are called Velella Velella, “by the wind sailor” jellyfish. They sail on top of the ocean’s surface in colonies & feed on plankton. Sometimes they wash up here on the beach in San Diego. 🌿🦑
August 7, 2024 at 3:22 PM
These small blue creatures are called Velella Velella, “by the wind sailor” jellyfish. They sail on top of the ocean’s surface in colonies & feed on plankton. Sometimes they wash up here on the beach in San Diego. 🌿🦑
A freshly washed in By-the-Wind Sailor (Velella velella), its coloured tentacles still vibrant. These open ocean drifters occasionally was ashore in large numbers.
County Clare, Ireland.
County Clare, Ireland.
August 9, 2025 at 9:01 AM
A freshly washed in By-the-Wind Sailor (Velella velella), its coloured tentacles still vibrant. These open ocean drifters occasionally was ashore in large numbers.
County Clare, Ireland.
County Clare, Ireland.
By-the-wind sailors (Velella velella along the Oregon coast today… millions of them!
#marinelife #velellavelella #oregoncoast #beachlife #ocean #hike #rockhound
#marinelife #velellavelella #oregoncoast #beachlife #ocean #hike #rockhound
March 27, 2026 at 12:51 AM
By-the-wind sailors (Velella velella along the Oregon coast today… millions of them!
#marinelife #velellavelella #oregoncoast #beachlife #ocean #hike #rockhound
#marinelife #velellavelella #oregoncoast #beachlife #ocean #hike #rockhound
Velella velella - By-the-wind Sailor - seen at Bodega Head in Bodega Bay, CA #hydrozoans
August 4, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Velella velella - By-the-wind Sailor - seen at Bodega Head in Bodega Bay, CA #hydrozoans
A shipwrecked By-the-Wind Sailor (Velella velella). Cast up by high tide and winds, left to dry out on the burren limestone.
County Clare, Ireland.
County Clare, Ireland.
October 7, 2025 at 9:02 AM
A shipwrecked By-the-Wind Sailor (Velella velella). Cast up by high tide and winds, left to dry out on the burren limestone.
County Clare, Ireland.
County Clare, Ireland.
October 20, 2025 at 8:59 PM
By-the-Wind Sailors or Velella velella in Cambria, California. Sailor jellyfish, commonly known as by-the-wind sailors are not true jellyfish but are free-floating hydrozoans, generally harmless to humans. 🪼
#photography #art #nature #wildlife #sealife #beach #jellyfish #Cambria #California
#photography #art #nature #wildlife #sealife #beach #jellyfish #Cambria #California
July 1, 2026 at 12:28 PM
By-the-Wind Sailors or Velella velella in Cambria, California. Sailor jellyfish, commonly known as by-the-wind sailors are not true jellyfish but are free-floating hydrozoans, generally harmless to humans. 🪼
#photography #art #nature #wildlife #sealife #beach #jellyfish #Cambria #California
#photography #art #nature #wildlife #sealife #beach #jellyfish #Cambria #California
Velella velella, the by-the-wind sailor. First of the season to wash ashore.
April 17, 2026 at 4:54 AM
Velella velella, the by-the-wind sailor. First of the season to wash ashore.
iNaturalist downloaded at the ready! @inaturalist.bsky.social is the largest community (citizen) science repository for documenting life on Earth. With a camera click, those beach walking naturalists can upload their by-the-wind sailor observations where... www.inaturalist.org/taxa/59698-V...
By-the-wind Sailor (Velella velella)
Velella is a monospecific genus of hydrozoa in the Porpitidae family. Its only known species is Velella velella, a cosmopolitan free-floating hydrozoa that lives on the surface of the open ocean. It i...
www.inaturalist.org
October 14, 2025 at 9:15 PM
iNaturalist downloaded at the ready! @inaturalist.bsky.social is the largest community (citizen) science repository for documenting life on Earth. With a camera click, those beach walking naturalists can upload their by-the-wind sailor observations where... www.inaturalist.org/taxa/59698-V...
Velella, what doing?? Not even 8am and a new fact to file away. #velella #velellavelella #bythewindsailors #inverts #hydrozoans
January 5, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Velella, what doing?? Not even 8am and a new fact to file away. #velella #velellavelella #bythewindsailors #inverts #hydrozoans
This papery piece of what looks like plastic is actually the skeleton of a By-the-Wind Sailor (Velella velella), an ocean surface dwelling Hydrozoan. When alive they have blue coloured tentacles they use to catch prey as they drift around on the sea.
County Clare, Ireland.
County Clare, Ireland.
June 30, 2026 at 9:41 AM
This papery piece of what looks like plastic is actually the skeleton of a By-the-Wind Sailor (Velella velella), an ocean surface dwelling Hydrozoan. When alive they have blue coloured tentacles they use to catch prey as they drift around on the sea.
County Clare, Ireland.
County Clare, Ireland.
July 29, 2026 at 6:02 PM
An ocean drifter …
A Velella velella,
or "by-the-wind-sailor”.
#TuesdayBlue
#StormHour #jefinuist #OuterHebrides #Scotland
A Velella velella,
or "by-the-wind-sailor”.
#TuesdayBlue
#StormHour #jefinuist #OuterHebrides #Scotland
July 15, 2025 at 6:38 PM
An ocean drifter …
A Velella velella,
or "by-the-wind-sailor”.
#TuesdayBlue
#StormHour #jefinuist #OuterHebrides #Scotland
A Velella velella,
or "by-the-wind-sailor”.
#TuesdayBlue
#StormHour #jefinuist #OuterHebrides #Scotland
A fresh By-the-Wind Sailor (Velella velella) washed up on the sand. Open ocean drifters that use winds to propel themselves across the water's surface, catching prey with their, blue stinging tentacles as they go.
County Clare, Ireland.
Cormacscoast.com walking tours
County Clare, Ireland.
Cormacscoast.com walking tours
August 29, 2026 at 9:52 AM
A fresh By-the-Wind Sailor (Velella velella) washed up on the sand. Open ocean drifters that use winds to propel themselves across the water's surface, catching prey with their, blue stinging tentacles as they go.
County Clare, Ireland.
Cormacscoast.com walking tours
County Clare, Ireland.
Cormacscoast.com walking tours
More - Velella velella - By-the-wind Sailors - seen at Bodega Head in Bodega Bay, CA #hydrozoans
August 4, 2025 at 10:31 PM
More - Velella velella - By-the-wind Sailors - seen at Bodega Head in Bodega Bay, CA #hydrozoans
A small By-the-Wind Sailor (Velella velella) blown ashore by the recent summer winds. Usually open ocean drifters they occasionally get blown ashore in large numbers.
County Clare, Ireland.
Cormacscoast.com walking tours
County Clare, Ireland.
Cormacscoast.com walking tours
June 5, 2026 at 8:20 AM
A small By-the-Wind Sailor (Velella velella) blown ashore by the recent summer winds. Usually open ocean drifters they occasionally get blown ashore in large numbers.
County Clare, Ireland.
Cormacscoast.com walking tours
County Clare, Ireland.
Cormacscoast.com walking tours
By-the-wind Sailor (Velella velella) Surface dwellers on the open ocean, this individual has been pushed up onto our shores by recent Southerly winds.
County Clare, Ireland.
County Clare, Ireland.
June 2, 2025 at 3:38 PM
By-the-wind Sailor (Velella velella) Surface dwellers on the open ocean, this individual has been pushed up onto our shores by recent Southerly winds.
County Clare, Ireland.
County Clare, Ireland.
All quiet on the #WestrayBirding front in recent days but thrilled to see my first ever By-the-wind sailors (Velella velella) on the beach near the house.
August 8, 2026 at 4:24 PM
All quiet on the #WestrayBirding front in recent days but thrilled to see my first ever By-the-wind sailors (Velella velella) on the beach near the house.
*Velella velella*
A colony of polyps
A colony of polyps
September 28, 2026 at 8:10 AM
*Velella velella*
A colony of polyps
A colony of polyps