Spiny lobsters can produce a loud rasping sound by rubbing an extension of their antennae against a rigid part of their body below their eyes. This noise may be used to communicate with other lobsters or to ward off predators.
This was the most intact lobster shell I’ve ever seen at the beach. Sure, it was broken in half and was missing a few legs, but it was mostly there.
It’s always fun to poke around the tide pools with Suzanne. We saw several California brown sea hares (Aplysia californica), so-named because their rhinophores look like long ears. Like all sea hares, the California sea hare is hermaphroditic, acting as male and female simultaneously during mating. A. californica is known to form mating chains with up to 20 animals. That would be a sight to see!
Most common item of plastic trash at the beach: drink bottle lids.
I had fun watching this gull repeatedly drop a mussel from considerable height onto the exposed rocks. Eventually the shell cracked enough for the bird to get its dinner.
En route to the city, I stopped at Topanga to sketch.
‘Twas a lovely afternoon at the rock pools.
It was good to be back at the beach with Suzanne. The water was clear and warm (about 70°F/21°C), and tiny bean clams (Donax gouldii) were out by the million. S said it had been about ten years since she’d seen this many at Zuma.
Gold Coast was the last place I lived in Australia. Man, it’s changed a lot in 25 years. But the beach is still nice 😊
I had my first ocean swim of the year today, preceded by litter pickup and followed by bird-sketching. All in all, a lovely morning.
Behind me, a flock of Elegant Terns kept rising, wheeling and calling before settling down again. A Great Blue Heron swallowed an enormous fish after slapping it about for a while. We each did our thing, and I came home sated and peaceful. I never regret visiting this place.
hashiworks 