The ocean is full of strange, but colorful sea creatures including these seen in the sheltered waters of Kawaihae.
Colorful sea creatures
Monthly Archives: September 2022
It came from the pond
Recently, I was down at the lagoon behind the beach at Pelekane Bay in Kawaihae. I was engaged in one of my favorite activities – failing to get photos of dragonflies in flight!
When I heard a loud plop behind me, I turned to find this scene. This Black-crowned Night Heron had dropped into the algae-covered water, probably after a fish. I don’t think it caught anything, but when it popped up again it sported a rather fetching green hairdo. Even after it had shed that, it still found the process of getting out of the water was hard going, with a lot of flapping and splashing producing little result.
Eventually the bird reached dry land and resumed a watchful pose, apparently none the worse for its ordeal.
The moon has its ups and downs
A couple of photos of the last full moon, rising (top) and then setting the next morning.
Floral apricots
This week’s Sunday Stills color challenge theme is ‘Apricot.’ See more responses here. I thought I’d go with some florals for this one.
The top photo is a powderpuff flower, and below that, a beehive ginger. At the bottom we have two views, close and closer, of a milo flower.
Abstracts: Something in the water
I love the patterns in shallow water and it’s a bonus when something, such as this turtle, add a twist to the image.
Dwarf Moray Eel hunting
I was snorkeling recently when I saw this Dwarf Moray Eel hunting with a small Saddle Wrasse. It promptly disappeared under a rock and I didn’t expect to see it again. But I was in no hurry, so moved away a bit and kept watch. After a while the eel poked its head out, hesitated, then swam out.
I snapped these two photos, the first as it emerged and the second as it disappeared again. I like how, in the top photo, the eel oozes out of a hole no bigger around than it is, which is less than an inch! These small eels typically are less than a foot long.
Going down
These robust steps lead into the water at the small park between the Port of Kawaihae and its small boat harbor. They’re nice and wide so surfers can get in and out on their way to the surf break in the vicinity. I was hoping that a large shape might pass by the steps, which is not unreasonable since there are a lot of sharks in this area.
Gecko on a palm tree trunk
Despite being brightly colored, Gold Dust Day Geckos can blend in when they’re on the right plants. I only noticed this one on a palm tree trunk because it was moving. I never tire of the look geckos give me when they realize they’ve been spotted.
Graham's Island 