I’m happy to report that last week’s full moon was the final named supermoon of the year. These days, full moons remind me of the competitions where everyone goes home with a trophy; they’re all the best ever. This one was called the Beaver Moon for reasons that aren’t entirely clear. I looked closely at the photo, but couldn’t make out any large teeth or dams anywhere!
Plumeria pudica has white flowers with a yellow center, not unusual for a Plumeria, but its leaves are quite different, with a shape resembling a cobra’s hood.
The idea of The Numbers Game is to enter a number into the search bar of your computer and then post a selection of the photos that turn up. This week’s number is 169. Captions are on the photos. You can see more responses here.
I know this fish as a Crocodile Needlefish (Tylosurus crocodilus), a name explained by looking at the jaws and teeth. Elsewhere, it’s known as a Houndfish. When I first saw it, I thought it might have a bit of fishing gear hooked into its mouth. It was working its jaws up and down, as if it might be trying to dislodge something. But when I got closer, I saw it had a fish in it’s mouth.
The unlucky fish looks like a toby, probably an Hawaiian White-spotted Toby. Except the unlucky fish might be the needlefish because the toby has clearly inflated itself, as they do. Not only that, but the skin of these tobies is highly toxic. My fish book tells of a diver who found a frogfish with one of these tobies inflated in its mouth. The frogfish was dead, though whether suffocated or poisoned he couldn’t tell. He freed the toby, which swam away none the worse for wear!
This month’s Sunday Stills color challenge is ‘Auburn or Brown.’ See more responses here. Captions on the photos.
On a recent rainy morning I saw this web outside the window. The spider was hunkered down in the center and did not appear much interested in finishing the job. Perhaps it was holding a tiny unseen placard demanding better working conditions.
A Spotted Dove, in a Mock Orange tree, sporting a customary caffeinated look.
Early morning at Hapuna. A couple more hours, and the beach will be a lot more populated.
Graham's Island 