Green anoles clearly know the importance of fitness as they struggle for survival in the natural world. This one appears to be doing push ups on a ti leaf.
Author Archives: Graham
Abstracts: Stick insect should stick to sticks
Stick insect are beautifully camouflaged on twigs and small branches, but there are other surfaces with which they blend well. This one, though, might not be the best choice.
IRONMAN wrap
A final few photos from last weekend’s IRONMAN world championship here on the Big Island.
Above, competitors pull over to wait out time penalties they’ve been given by race marshals. For cyclists, the violations are usually drafting violations.
Second, one of my favorite IRONMAN participants, the wheeler-dealer. I like to think this support guy rides the course shouting, “Wheels, we got wheels. Get your wheels here.” Sadly, every time I’ve seen him, he’s always been very quiet and with this same inscrutable expression.
Bottom, a rider whizzes past tropical foliage on the way out of Hawi.
For more information about IRONMAN, go to Ironman.com.
Black and yellow mud dauber wasp
The black and yellow mud dauber (Sceliphron caementarium) is one of several mud dauber wasps. They’re large, quite common, and get their name from the mud nests they build. These nests are often attached to man-made structures, such as under the eaves of houses. They’re not aggressive, but are prone to startling me since they spend a good deal of time around the outside of the house.
Shell ginger flower
The shell ginger flower has delicate pink blooms, which give the plant its name. But these pink flowers open to reveal striking red and yellow interiors. This one has attracted a couple of ants.
Hawaiian monk seals getting together
Last month, I posted here about how unusual it was to see two Hawaiian monk seals in the same tide pool. Those two, identified as IO5 and BOO, were stretched out, resting.
A couple of weeks later, I came across the same two seals in a different tide pool, but definitely not resting. Bouts of circling and interaction were interspersed with them just lying together or in close proximity. Mostly IO5, the male seal, seemed to be the pursuer, but when he stopped, BOO, the female, was just as likely to reinitiate the activity.
Eventually BOO left the water and IO5 followed. He made another attempt to initiate some action, but she seemed to have tired of the game. Eventually, he eased off to the side not far away, and by the time I left, the two of them seemed to have settled in for some rest.
To me, IO5 looked like he was interested in mating, and half the time, she seemed amenable, but I’m not sure they’d do that in a tide pool. None of the barking, slapping, or nipping seemed to have any malevolence behind it; after such exchanges they mostly settled down again next to each other.
IO5 is on the left in the top photo, the right in the middle photo, and the foreground in the bottom photo. He’s the seal I see most often and his expression in the middle photo is quite representative of him.
For more information about Hawaiian monk seals, see here or here.
IRONMAN feeding frenzy
Nutrition and hydration are key elements for IRONMAN competitors. There are aid stations at regular intervals along the course and at some of these it’s possible to stash a goody bag of personal favorites (within legal limits of course). The photo at right shows these bags arranged by number, ready for distribution.
Most of the competitors will have to stop to pick up their bags, but the professionals, going through first, will (hopefully) be handed theirs while on the move. The photos below show Camilla Pedersen of Denmark receiving her bag from one of the IRONMAN volunteers.
In the top photo, Michael Weiss of Austria and Tim O’Donnell of the U.S.A. show they’re ready should the IRONMAN organizers decide to award bonus points for synchronized water bottle use.
For more information about IRONMAN, go to Ironman.com.
Better Days: Black witch moth
This black witch moth shows the wear and tear of everyday life.
