Hello again and welcome to another one of these photo diaries intended only to provide a brief respite from the struggles of the day and to provide a reminder that we share this small planet with all matter of amazing critters.
These photos were all take this past weekend.
Sunrise Over Waianae Coast
Red-Footed Booby
I did not go with the dreaded booby-bait-and-switch when titling this diary despite the fact that I think I got some of my best flying booby shoots ever.
Booby looking at ya
Red-Footed Booby Sula sula rubripes
Pantropical Spotted Dolphin (Stenella attenuata)
Prior to institution of "dolphin safe" fishing practices in the '80's MILLIONS of this species were killed by purse seine tuna fishing operations. Populations may still be impacted by factory fishing; from wiki:
According to a study reported in the October, 2008 issue of Marine Ecology Progress Series, negative impacts from fishing activities remain, despite broad "dolphin safe" practices. Instead of reducing numbers through direct mortalities, the study shows that fishing activities have disrupted the reproductive output of the northeastern pantropical spotted dolphin. The results showed that fishing had a negative impact on calf survival rates and/or birth rates. This could be caused when fishing operations separate mothers from their suckling calves, interfere with the conception or gestation of calves or a combination of the two.
Spotted Dolphin
Locals call them porpoise and look for them when fishing for ahi in Hawai'ian waters.
Black-Footed Albatross Phoebastria nigripes
This sighting was the first for me in the main Hawai'ian islands.
Black-Footed Albatross
These are very large birds with wingspans up to 84".
Humpback Whale
This is pretty late in the whale season. I kind of felt like this one was waving goodbye before heading north to Alaska.
Let's follow the whale and dive beneath the waves....
Commerson's Frogfish (juvenile) Antennarius commerson
You may remember this little fellow from last week. We dove the same site and found it not far from his its previous location. The juveniles are usually easier to spot that the often more camoflagued adults.
Yellow Margin Moray Gymnothorax flavimarginatus
This one has its tail wrapped back around and you can see the greenish yellow edging that give this eel its name.
Another handsome yellow margin moray. These are relatively large eels that get up to three feet long.
Whitemouth Moray Gymnothorax meleagris
Probably the most commonly seen moray in Hawai'i.
It is obvious where they get their common name.
Open wide! They look more threatening than they are.
Blackside Hawkfish Paracirrhites forsteri
Hawkfish' habit of sitting still on the reef make them easy photographic subjects.
Redbarred Hawkfish Cirrhitops fasciatus
I like the expression on its face.
Golden Green Goby Priolepis aureoviridis
Yes it is upside down. They hang out that way deep in holes in the reef.
Tiger Cowry Cypraea tigris
Hawai'i has the largest Tiger Cowries in the world. This one has its mantle extended up over the shell.
Now for some little sea slugs...
Pustulose Phyllidia Phyllidiella pustulosa
Gold Lace Nudibranch Halgerda terramtuentis
White Margin Nudibranchs Glossodoris rufomarginata
All these creatures have a similar body plan with two sensory organs called rhynophores and the "head" and frilly gills on the back end.
Kangaroo Nudibranch Ceratosoma tenue
This one is realtively rare and this is the first I have seen.
Thanks for visiting. As always feel free to treat this as a community photo diary and please be good humans.
If you have any problem with this diary I refer you to the Complaint Department:
Aloha