Erosion

Here is an interesting result of beach erosion. This is a remnant tree trunk, probably a mangrove, sitting in compacted mud. It was exposed when the overlaying beach sand was removed by a storm. Because mud is an anaerobic environment it can preserve wood. This trunk could be decades old, or centuries; hard to tell without dating it. 

Here's another piece of preserved wood from the same area. Here the sand itself has started cementing together. I don't no whether this rock could be classed as sandstone yet, or the wood as a true fossil.

Part of the sand overburden still remains around this remnant piece of wood. The picture also gives an indication of where the current shoreline is. Unless covered again by sand this wood will eventually weather away.

Another piece of  a remnant tree, this time out in the water providing a hold for barnacles to grow.

All these pictures were taken at low tide.

Bioluminescence

Bioluminescence has always fascinated me whether it be fireflies, bacteria, plankton,

 or in this picture, fungi. These little mushrooms are about 6mm in diameter and emit a faint light so are easily

overlooked. They were growing in the hollow of a small tree outside my house. The cold light is produced 

by the interaction of an enzyme, luciferase, with a protein, luciferin, in the presence of oxygen.

Pelicans

The one on the level post likes where his standing, 

the one on the wire isn't to sure about his position.

Is this me projecting?

Pelicans always remind me of cargo planes when they fly. I guess

it has to do with their size, anything this big is going to be a little 

ponderous where flight is concerned.

Size does matter. You can make a big splash on landings; and lots

of big bubbles. Very flashy.

Pelicans have amazing balance. They can go to sleep like this. They tend

to fight over the level posts, but when they're occupied a wire rope will

do, particularly if there are other pelicans next to you.

Bugs

This little fellow is a Harlequin beetle. A male to be precise. They're very seasonal; a little

like Christmas beetles. Look for them around April on Cotton Trees (Tree Hibiscus). As can see they're easy to spot and make very good photographic subjects, not being too fussed if you get very close to them.

Don't touch them though, their defense is a foul smelling liquid.

These are also Harlequin beetles. The yellow ones are the females and the smaller ones are nymphs,

immature versions of the adults.

A nymph in a Cotton Tree pod.

You don't have to go far to find interesting subjects. Mr Camoflage was on the gum tree outside the front of my house. If it hadn't moved I wouldn't have seen it. Unlike the previous bugs, this one isn't easy to find. It's about 1cm long and I have no idea what it's called.

Soldier Crabs

 

Soldier crabs aren't that common near civilzation these days.

Their swarms appear to be smaller, a couple of hundred

instead of thousands; and the individuals are a lot smaller.

This one is about 15mm instead of 25mm 

and he was one of the biggest of the bunch.

 

When they realise they can't outrun you they hide by burying 

themselves in the sand. They do this by scooping the sand out from 

underneath them and rolling it up into little balls while rotating clockwise.

A sand igloo quickly covers them, and because the sand's wet it blends together. 

Several seconds later you can't tell where they burrowed in.

Southern Moreton Bay Islands

A lot of the Southern Moreton Bay islands are low lying and covered with mangroves. Climbing through mangrove roots can be fun but it's very tiring. But sometimes there are places to land and have a look around.

This island was about 2kms off the coast and had a small sandy beach. 

Not certain why the trees all died off here though. 

Mangrove wood weathers into some quite beautiful shapes and textures, particularly the grain patterns. The effects of the sea on the wood result in forms you just don't see anywhere else.

We do chuck a lot of stuff into the sea that shouldn't be there. Amongst the flotsam on this little beach I found this abandoned crab pot with the remains of a Hawksbill turtle. I don't think the turtle could have gotten into the trap by itself and died. Most likely a dead carcass was used as bait.

Some of the islands are more than mangroves, mud and sand. This one was made of red dirt and was about 20 meters above sea level with a large plateau on top. It's probably the weathered remains of a hill before ocean levels rose several thousand years ago. Looks nice doesn't it? Not so. I stopped to put my shoes on here and was almost eaten alive by sandflies.

These larger islands sometimes have inhabitants like this billy, and signs of previous human habitation. Judging by his behaviour I think he was used to people. He didn't go me. He looks like he's been shampooed. I don't know much about goats but this one is probably farmed for his fur. 

Didn't notice this dude at my elbow until he moved. I'm glad he was a python rather than one of the other varieties. He was sunning himself on the tyre of an old abandoned tractor. Beautiful scales, like overlapping triangles.