Pelicans are plummeting to snatch food under the water:
The bird is possibly having a big feast. Is that a lobster ?
The beach on a sunny autumn Saturday was inviting. The sky was blue. The air was crisp and dry. Sitting on a bench overlooking the turquoise water below, we felt refreshing, especially after two weeks’ stay in China and another two weeks’ jet lag at home.
With low tide that noon, the bare reef was exposed to the sunlight. The rocky surface on the far side was covered with mussels, big and small, that squeezed tightly with each other. Walled by reefs or rocks like caves is crystal clear sea water, in the middle of which grow lushly some underwater sea grass and sea weeds. Spreading along the bank are some brilliant purple flowers, except these plant-looking “flowers” are as a matter of fact sea urchins. At the bottom of the caves are fine sands, piled with rocks and mussel shells, upon which dotted some hermit crabs, small crabs and occasionally a couple of sea anemone. Schools of Fish are happily seen swimming around. A guy was found feeding fish with the cracked mussel meat. We soon followed suit.
We were greeted with a greater surprise visiting another tidal pool. For the first half an hour, nothing was found. Just as we were about to return empty-handedly, we saw a few kids surrounding a tall guy and watching something attentively. As we approached closer, we saw in a man’s palm a heap of little rocks. He told us that an octopus was camouflaged in the middle. Rocks were what the octopus desperately held on to for life. But its limbs were soon tired from gripping the rocks. Rocks either got loosened or were pulled away by the man. The octopus without hard rocks protecting it was left helpless with only a soft body and wriggling limbs. Kids were taught to touch and feel it tenderly, and not for long were asked to release it back to the puddle. Obviously not content, kids were on their own, determined to leave no rocks unturned. They searched here and there, lifted heavy rocks with two little hands. Their eyes glued to the ground underneath in search of something moving. Hard work was paid off in the end, as one or two more octopuses were found to their delight.
Pelicans are plummeting to snatch food under the water:
The bird is possibly having a big feast. Is that a lobster ?
The beach on a sunny autumn Saturday was inviting. The sky was blue. The air was crisp and dry. Sitting on a bench overlooking the turquoise water below, we felt refreshing, especially after two weeks’ stay in China and another two weeks’ jet lag at home.
With low tide that noon, the bare reef was exposed to the sunlight. The rocky surface on the far side was covered with mussels, big and small, that squeezed tightly with each other. Walled by reefs or rocks like caves is crystal clear sea water, in the middle of which grow lushly some underwater sea grass and sea weeds. Spreading along the bank are some brilliant purple flowers, except these plant-looking “flowers” are as a matter of fact sea urchins. At the bottom of the caves are fine sands, piled with rocks and mussel shells, upon which dotted some hermit crabs, small crabs and occasionally a couple of sea anemone. Schools of Fish are happily seen swimming around. A guy was found feeding fish with the cracked mussel meat. We soon followed suit.
We were greeted with a greater surprise visiting another tidal pool. For the first half an hour, nothing was found. Just as we were about to return empty-handedly, we saw a few kids surrounding a tall guy and watching something attentively. As we approached closer, we saw in a man’s palm a heap of little rocks. He told us that an octopus was camouflaged in the middle. Rocks were what the octopus desperately held on to for life. But its limbs were soon tired from gripping the rocks. Rocks either got loosened or were pulled away by the man. The octopus without hard rocks protecting it was left helpless with only a soft body and wriggling limbs. Kids were taught to touch and feel it tenderly, and not for long were asked to release it back to the puddle. Obviously not content, kids were on their own, determined to leave no rocks unturned. They searched here and there, lifted heavy rocks with two little hands. Their eyes glued to the ground underneath in search of something moving. Hard work was paid off in the end, as one or two more octopuses were found to their delight.
