Odder Still

 

This sea cucumber feeds by folding one arm at a time to the mouth.  The body is buried in the sand.  All arms retract when disturbed. This video was taken at Lindeman Island on the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia by Deb Burton.

Oddities

Pale Octopus, Victoria, Australia

Weedy Sea Dragon or Seahorse, Victoria, Australia

 

 

 

The Amazing Colorful World of Marine Worms and More

 

Persian Carpet Flatworm from Vanuatu

Fusia Flatworm, North Keppel Island, Australia

Starry or Snowflake Moray Eel, Tonga

Peacock Mantis Shrimp - Photos by Deb Burton

Fish 101

 Fish photos featured here today.  For the past six years Deb has devoted a large part of her psychic energy on finding reef fish and documenting their appearance, habitat, behavior, etc. Here we try to provide a window into the world of the coral reef.

Long Beaked Coralfish - Australia

Lion's Mane Jellyfish - Australia

 

Dwarf Hawkfish - Tonga

 

 

 

 

Emperor Angelfish - Tuamotu, French Polynesia

Sunrise at Cairns Reef, north of Cape Tribulation

October 23, 2021

 

Driving Victoria in fall

Leaving Kalliope in Bundaberg Queensland and her transmission at a shop in New South Wales, we drive on to the Bass Strait south Coast of Victoria.  Arriving at Wilson's Promontory Park in time for a few hikes in blustery, occasionally wet weather.  We start with a bit of fly fishing along the Tidal River.

This park features high class boardwalks where needed to protect hillsides or river banks

On the way back to the trail head Deb gets shots of a crimson rosella,

Three emus which are fairly common here in cow pastures and car parks

And a galah, say it with emphasis on the second syllable.  They are common in small flocks everywhere.

We hike the trail to the scenic overlook

and we are rewarded with a panoramic view of Bass Strait between the

State of Victoria and the southern island state of Tasmania.

Frasier Island Redux

To do:

Six weeks of isolation - check

Haul Kalliope & paint the bottom - check

Test all systems -  check

Cast off the lines - check

Cross the Mooloola River Bar - check

Sail to Double Island Point - check
Anchor for the night - check

Greet the songbirds in the morning

Hitch a ride ashore with friends Greg and Lisa

We cross the Wide Bay Bar in perfect conditions so no drama and no photo. 

Now we are in Great Sandy Straight National Park where we find our way 

through braided channels among sand bars.

Enjoying another sunrise that couldn't be beat.

Spill out of The Straight into Hervey Bay.  We could not get a good picture of the spill.

Debbie shopping for sea shells by the sea shore.

 Anchor near the Kingfisher resort and

hike the trail to the site of the former Secret

WWII Frasier Island Commando School.

Get stuck driving the commando's not so secret surplus equipment.

Walk back 'cause the tractor is stuck.

Have such a good time we forget all about Mooloolaba sunsets.