http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/nature/post/wind-sailors-litter-west-coast-beaches/

Thousands of "By-the-wind sailors" are washing up on west coast beaches...

David Bader, director of education at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California, told CNN: “Every now and then, the currents and winds will change and these guys will, instead of being pushed out to sea, they actually wind up on the beach.”

Scientific name: Velella velella. They’re sort of like jellyfish, but not actual jellyfish. They sting to stun their prey, but are not considered harmful to humans. Mass strandings are sometimes associated with strong warm-water events, such as an El Niño.