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Six Brown Sweetlips waited in a single line
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date: 26/1/2009
Author:Jess Howard
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Weather: Awesome Aussie Weather hot and sunny | Air Temp: 30.5ºC | Wind: East/South East 15-20 knots | Water Temp: 27ºC | Water Visibility: ~25 metres | Sea State: Slight
Where else would you want to celebrate this amazing country than on the Great Barrier Reef! Well Lady Elliot celebrated in style. Early morning chants in the dining room had everybody in Aussie spirits and prizes handed out for Aussie costumes. Both Australian and international guests donned Australian flag and animal temporary tattoos, commemorating Australia and its uniqueness.
Morning divers at popular dive site, Anchor Bommie, found all sorts of Aussie creatures including turtles, reef sharks, moray eels, and schools of Batfish and Parrotfish. Later in the morning, Glassbottom boaters at jumped in for a snorkel at Second Reef, among the masses of turtles hanging around the snorkel rope. One Leopard shark was spotted lazing on the sandy floor, whilst a Shovelnose ray zipped in and out quickly, only spotted by a few people. Six Brown Sweetlips waited in a single line at a cleaning station waiting to have small wrasse pick off bits of dead skin and mucus from their bodies and inside their gills and mouths.
The morning birdwatching tour marveled at the tiny Bridled Tern chicks scampering away when approached, to hide in coral crevices. The chicks seem to take on a “I can’t see you therefore you can’t see me” approach as they run in head first, but still have their backs exposed. Silly little things. Looking up, all the White-Capped Noddies are singing their songs and going about their duties of rebuilding their nests and feeding their chicks. So many little white-capped fluffballs stare down from their high perches with a mischievous look in their eyes.
The afternoon Reefwalk found scattered seastars, all twisted within the coral attempting to hide from view. A last minute discovery of a bright orange Christmas Tree worm had all eyes gathered around a Porites bommie watching the little shape move back and forth in the water. Named for their shape, the Christmas Tree worm look like two little Christmas Trees side by side. It burrows in to the coral and lives there for its entire life. They come in fantastic colours and have a remarkable defence mechanism. If one were to attempt to grab the worm, it simply pulls itself back into its burrow, but its so fast, its like he just disappeared.
Afternoon divers at Second Reef discovered Eagle Rays, TWO sea snakes, a BIG Maori Wrasse and a surprise finding of a Wobbegong hiding in the sand. His tail was spotted first, only because he moved, then the rest of his figure was spotted half hidden in the sediment.
The night time turtle expedition was led by Ranger John Meech, who works at Mon Repos Conservation Park in Bundaberg. One Hundred little Green Hatchlings were released at the northern end, then the turtle mission began. About eight Green turtles were found nesting around the island. Guests watched on as eggs dropped into her egg chamber as John checked her specifications and tagged her if she didn’t have one. One turtle interested John specifically due to her tag, as it was one from a group that have only been used this season. John’s suggestion was that perhaps she was tagged on a close by island, ie Lady Musgrave and then came to nest here. Very interesting indeed.
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Christmas Tree Worm - Jess Howard
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