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Friday - guests find 4 green tree frogs
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date: 7/11/2008
Author:Jess Howard
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CONDITIONS
Weather: Sunny, clear skies and HOT! | Air Temp: 28ºC | Wind: North Easterly 10/15 knots | Water Temp: 24ºC | Water Visibility: ~20 metres | Sea State: Calm
ISLAND LIFE
Critter Encounters:
Night stalkers last night found FOUR green tree frogs, although they were a nice shade of brown, not green. Hopefully the small spurts of rain over the week will green them up again. The big excitement for guests last night was seeing a turtle coming up the beach to lay her eggs. Unfortunately, night stalkers didn’t get to see her lay, as she turned around and headed back to the water. But what a brush with nature!
Early morning wanderers discovered a female Green turtle on the beach just near the Coral Gardens at 6am as she tried turning around to head back down to the water. She’d dug three big holes but hadn’t laid any eggs; hopefully she’ll be back tonight to lay those eggs.
Divers at the Three Pyramids this morning encountered two big Manta Rays gliding along overhead, along with silvertip reef sharks, Loggerhead turtles, and a striking Lionfish.
Morning reefwalkers cooled their feet off as they ventured into the lagoon to visit the shallow marine inhabitants. A big Tiger Cowrie and a small Mole cowrie shell highlighted the reef walk, as did a juvenile Trumpet fish who was very curious of reefwalkers and stuck close to the group for the entire tour. The abundant Blue Linckia Seastars and the lone Pencil slate Urchin topped off an AWESOME reef walk!
Glassbottom boaters experienced picture perfect conditions for snorkelling and viewing through the glass bottom of the boat. Green turtles were abundant in the water, seen in the water and from the boat, using the time to get acquainted and mating for the season. A white tip reef shark and a tawny nurse were spotted in the water, causing a ripple of excitement through guests. One lone stingray swam on by, not particularly interested in the snorkelers, who were exuberant to see him.
Afternoon divers at popular dive sight “Tubes” encountered an Eagle Ray with a “enormous tail”, the same two Manta Rays as this morning, and brightly coloured nudibranchs scattered throughout the coral crevices.
Fish feeding once again gathered a crowd of guests all keen to cool down their sweaty feet by having Moon Wrasse, Sergeant Majors, Rabbit fish and Diamond-scaled Mullet graze around their ankles.
As the afternoon beams on, a welcoming breeze whispers gently through the resort, as keen sporters are cricketing on the airstrip, couples are enjoying romantic platters in the late afternoon sun, down by the waters edge, and others are cooling down in the lagoon for a sunset snorkel.
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Green Tree Frog - Jess Howard
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