Sand in movement

Panoramic photo taken on Tuesday at Beach 1 showing some erosion occurring to the fore-dune. Notice the water pooling in the bottom right.

This next photo is facing SE at the same site and the undulating effect from the pooling water extends to the horizon.  Truly a dynamic environment!

Bad weather for Sailors, but good for Diatoms

Beach One was the location of a mass stranding of Velella lata, more commonly known as by-the-wind-sailors. These little blue creatures are no more than 5cm long and are related to jellyfishes and anemones. Their natural habitat is on the surface of the open ocean, where the Velella feed on plankton.



They move across the ocean with their distinctive transparent "sail" catching the wind, visible in this first picture.

Every now and again a change of wind direction (like the cold blast we are currently experiencing) blows thousands of Velella helplessly towards the shore.
This second picture shows the underside of the Velella where its feeding tentacles are visible.


The same sort of weather that was responsible for the stranding of the Velella brought waters rich in nutrients that has allowed the Diatoms to bloom along the surf of Beach One.

This picture taken this morning at Beach One showing the characteristic browny-green "stain" of a Diatom bloom.

Alone at last!

WEEDS WEEDS EVERYWHERE!

There is no set definition of what a weed is, other than that they are always undesirable. In the context here I am referring to plants that are not endemic to an area, and that escape into our natural areas to become weeds.



This is undesirable for two main reasons;

• It changes our natural areas from being natural, which is the reason those areas are valued in the first place.
  



• It alters the balance in the ecosystem. The weeds out compete the native seedlings, so natural regeneration gets hampered. The native animals are all linked to the native vegetation and start to struggle, and pest animal species often displace them.

What can we all do?

Learn to recognise a few of the weeds, and which ones are particularly nasty. Below are a couple of useful links,

South Gippsland Weeds;

http://www.southgippslandweeds.com.au/

and the DPI's weed site;

http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pests-diseases-and-weeds/weeds

The weeds pictured are from top to bottom; Ragwort Senecio jacobaea, Inkweed Phytolacca octandra & Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare.

Celebrating Australia Day

What better place to celebrate Australia Day than on Beach One. Good job all you nippers and dedicated surf club patrols.