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Tuesday - interact with friendly Green turtles
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date: 26/8/2008
Author:Jess Howard
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CONDITIONS
Weather: Fine, slightly cloudy, warm | Air Temp: 24 oC | Wind: SE 5-10 knots | Water Temp: 21oC | Water Visibility: 20m | Sea State: Slight - Nice and calm, perfect weather for snorkeling out of the keyways in sunshine and in the lagoon late afternoon.
ISLAND LIFE
Critter Encounters:
Whilst reef walking at low tide, although it is slightly windy on the surface, various creatures are amenable to interacting with us. Just inshore, not even two steps in, an amazingly twisted Blue Linkia lay hiding in the coral, their iridescent blue a hard colour to miss amongst the healthy browns and greens of the coral. A few more steps in revealed small boring clams playfully spitting water, stuck tightly within the coral. Slightly deeper water uncovered the vast mass of a giant turquoise clam resting on the bottom, its weight holding it in place. A lemon coloured pincushion seastar peaked out from within the coral, next to the smaller arm of a New Caledonia seastar, that refused to be removed. Upon slowly wandering back to shore, a black-tail sea hare was spotted gently maneuvering itself throughout the coral crevices. When approached, he smoothly slipped within the coral to hide.
In more adventurous waters, snorkellers were treated when the majestic Manta Rays crowded the Lighthouse keyway searching for plankton. As always we are attempting to identify each individual to determine residents and transients within the population. Snorkellers were also able to swim and interact with friendly Green turtles. A whale was spotted just of the regular snorkel sight, on a mission heading south to cooler waters. Meanwhile, underwater, the divers, also interacting with the Green turtles were able to offer a back scratch to a passing Loggerhead turtle. He gratefully accepted. Many Cowtail Rays and Bull rays were sighted by the divers. A small bright blue nudibranch was also spotted deep within a coral crevice. He didn’t escape from view.
Terrestrial sightings involved three Red Tail Tropic birds displaying spectacular courting rituals over the southern end of the airstrip, while four more were spotted resting comfortably on their nests keeping their eggs warm and safe. A lone frigate bird guarded the island on the prowl for smaller sea birds coming back with their full bellies, trying to steal their meal. Silver gulls joined by a few crested terns, guarded the fish pool all day, hoping for a fragment of fish food. Fish feeding at high tide invites a wide array of fish to come and dine. Among Nigel, the Silver Drummer, and Jake and Elwood, the Lined Rabbitfish, we have schools of Sergeant Majors, Moon wrasse, Flagtails, Diamond-scale sea mullet, Moses perch and White-barred Damsels also joining in for some food. As the sun sets, the island is flooded by flocks of white-capped Noddies returning for the coming months to build nests and raise their chicks. These white capped noddies are the first to return to the island for breeding season and have now been flocking back to the island for the last 5 days.
On a more solemn note, evidence of fishing within our Green Zone has been encountered with this poor Cod sporting a fish hook in his mouth. Not to worry though, fish hooks tend to rust out within days, so he’ll be off and chasing smaller fish in no time, once again making Lady Elliot a magical place to be.
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Turtle - Mark Atkinson
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