Speaking of serendipity, yesterday afternoon, I happened by the Huntington Beach Pier in time to see a crowd gathered around, talking and gesturing and paying far more attention than usual to the pier pilings. When I went over to see why, I found that there were a whole bunch of giant starfish hanging onto the pilings. They were a beautiful, unexpected wonder, and I spent some time admiring them and taking pictures. Some were out in the open, others half-buried under the barnacles.
What I want to know now, though, is what were they doing there? I don't think it's a case of "They were always there and I never noticed." So, what brings giant starfish, creatures that normally stroll along very slowly under the ocean, to the pier? I can see why they hung on when they got there, and I suspect them of finding barnacles tasty, but how did they end up there? Does this happen periodically? Or is it a case of "always there"? I did try a websearch, but with no success at all. 
