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Wednesday - a Green turtle wanted to upstage the fish
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date: 15/10/2008
Author:Jess Howard
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CONDITIONS
Weather: Very warm, sunny and spectacular | Air Temp: 26ºC | Wind: East/North Easterly 10-15 knots | Water Temp: 24ºC | Water Visibility: ~15-25 metres | Sea State: Calm
ISLAND LIFE
Critter Encounters:
Today began with a gorgeous sunrise at 5:17am, and an early morning snorkel in the lagoon. Birds chirping away in the morning enticed staff and guests to rise early. By mid morning, the sun was high and the birds had gone about their business of collecting leaves for their nests. White-capped noddies could be sighted absolutely everywhere, either on the ground with their wings spread out sunning themselves, over the lagoon searching for their meal, or sitting lazily in the trees singing songs. Bridled terns were spotted playing follow the leader, as they acted out their courtship dance in endearing displays of affection. The island tucker tourers played out a survival scenario to determine their ability to survive if they were stranded on an island with just the flora and fauna to live on. After building a hypothetical shelter and fire, and finding all necessities along the way, guests decided that they could do it but would much rather come to Lady Elliot for the atmosphere that it endorses now.
The morning dive on the eastern side of the island at Hiro’s Cave encountered many black tip and silver tip reef sharks, a HUGE Loggerhead turtle and a few Manta Rays.
On the glassbottom boat, snorkelers were able to glimpse lots of turtles, silver drummer, mullet and blue-green chromis. A lone Manta was cruising around, filtering the water for planktonic crustaceans to feed on. One guest was animatedly excited in describing their first sighting of a Manta ray at Coral Gardens. “It was just cruising around, it was so AWESOME!!” Island discoverers found the Tropic Bird chicks all alone this afternoon, Zulu was even trying to escape the nest, using his short little legs to try and hop out from under Suite 3. Must have been feeding time for mums and dads. Reefwalkers this afternoon cooled off their feet in the afternoon heat and spotted a moray eel, who lazily threw a glance their way, then ventured off into deeper water. A blue-spotted lagoon ray was also sighted, though he swam away hastily. At fish feeding a Green turtle decided she wanted to upstage the fish and sat in the deeper water of the fish pool, just resting. It was a large female, most likely taking a break from her busy mating schedule. The usual crowd of Sergeant Majors, Sea mullet, Triggerfish and six-bar Wrasse swam around her flippers with ease, gobbling up all the food.
The afternoon dive consisted of a drift from the Blowhole to Tubes, where Manta Man Kym sadly reported only one Manta Ray but heaps and heaps of reef sharks. Divers were surrounded by white tip, silver tip and grey reef sharks. What an experience in nature. A coral cay formation discussion ended the afternoon’s activities, where guests were educated on the development of a coral cay and how Lady Elliot appeared. As the sun starts sinking below the horizon, and the ground starts getting cooler, a contented sigh washes over Lady Elliot, and a peaceful night begins.
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Green Turtle - Jess Howard
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