Bluespine unicornfish

A bluespine unicornfish swims off the Big Island.
When I’m out snorkeling, some fish don’t seem at all bothered by my presence, continuing to go about their business. Others will dart away the moment I appear (nothing personal I hope). Bluespine unicornfish fall somewhere in between. Mostly when I see them they appear unconcerned, but the distance between us inexorably grows.

No prizes for deducing how they get their name.

In my attempts to identify what I see in the water, I use John P. Hoover’s book The Ultimate Guide to Hawaiian Reef Fishes, Sea Turtles, Dolphins, Whales, and Seals. His website is hawaiisfishes.com.

Signs: Have mercy

Sign seen during the IRONMAN world championship on the Big Island.
I enjoyed the message in front of the local Catholic church during the recent IRONMAN race, which is a decidedly merciless event consisting of a 2.4 mile open-water swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and a marathon run. Looks like someone might be about to have a problem with his bike chain, too.

For more information about IRONMAN, go to Ironman.com.

Zebra doves

A pair of zebra doves perch on a mock orange branch
I’ve been pruning a huge mock orange tree behind the house, a little concerned about how this would impact the birds that use it for food and shelter. However, this pair of zebra doves appeared to enjoy the late afternoon sunshine at a spot opened up by the pruning.

Hawaiian whitespotted toby

A female Hawaiian whitespotted toby preparing to lay eggsA pair of Hawaiian whitespotted tobies preparing to lay and fertilize eggs
Hawaiian whitespotted tobies are small pufferfish, under 4 inches long. The one in the top photo is a female, probably looking for a spot to deposit her eggs. The toby following her (second photo) is a male. After she’s deposited her eggs he’ll fertilize them. Neither will stay with the eggs.

A couple of days after taking this photo, I was in a different location when another pair of these tobies zipped up to me and went by a foot away. In that case, it was two males, the one vigorously defending its territory from the interloper.

In my attempts to identify what I see in the water, I use John P. Hoover’s book The Ultimate Guide to Hawaiian Reef Fishes, Sea Turtles, Dolphins, Whales, and Seals. His website is hawaiisfishes.com.

IRONMAN wrap

IRONMAN competitors pull over to wait out time penalties they’ve been given by race marshalsA support person carries spare wheels at the IRONMAN world championship on the Big Island.
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.

An IRONMAN rider whizzes past tropical foliage on the way out of Hawi