 |
|
Monday - guests surprised by a Frigate Bird
|
date: 1/9/2008
Author:Shay Young
|
CONDITIONS
Weather: Sunny, clouds early morning | Air Temp: 25.1°C | Wind: E/NE 10/15 knots | Water Temp: 22°C | Water Visibility: 20m | Sea State: Calm
ISLAND LIFE
Critter Encounters:
Today signifies the start of spring and the weather today could not have been better! This morning saw a blazing sunrise with cloud cover only to line the sky with a striking orange haze, although they say ‘red sky in the morning Sheppard’s warning’ the saying could not be any further from the truth with the cloud cover clearing by lunchtime.
The glass bottom boat tour today saw many guests being surprised by a Frigate Bird hunting down a white capped noddie to get a quick meal. The Frigate Bird will usually glide high in the sky awaiting small seabirds returning to the island after feeding at sea; when the Frigate catches a glimpse of the bird it will dart down to the bird continuously pecking at the back of the neck until eventually the small bird regurgitates all its stored food. This is a way that the Frigate Bird can gain up to 5% of its total food intake, with the other 95% coming from fish on the surface of the water.
Spring is here bringing a few of our old friend back to the island! Adult Sea Turtles have started to return with snorkelers lucky enough to experience turtle shows at their best. The mature male turtles are now beginning to fight over the females and exude their dominance on the reefs of Lady Elliot. The male turtles will continue to fight until the mating season has finished at the end of November, with males coming from far and wide to join in on the action. The Sea Turtles will not actually reach sexual maturity until the age of 30 to 50 years…. A lot longer than humans!
A reef walk in the afternoon proved be rewarding with many keen guest getting a taste of the marine life hiding in the shallows. The first critter to be sighted was a Sea Hare feasting on algae, Sea stars were aplenty, not to mention all the fish flourishing in the shallows.
The conditions today were once again perfect, making for a spectacular dive, with many of the divers saying the conditions were ‘Fantastic!’
Bull Rays, Manta Rays were all out today, with the Bull Rays hiding ever so inconspicuously in the sandy sediment. Diver Instructor Mark also was lucky enough to find a Sand Dollar skeleton or otherwise known as test along the dive trail.
Today has surely proved to be another truly special day on our magnificent coral cay!
Special Events / Activities:
Special Guests:
Varsity College students from years 7 & 8 arrived today to enjoy 4 days of exploring the reef!
|
|
Frigate Bird - Wayne Fox
|
click to download flash player