107 days ago

Amazing

Paul from Levin

AMAZING!! At Hokio Beach this morning there was not a shore-bird to be seen because of the abhorrent noise and behaviour of people on 2 & 4 wheel motor bikes. Frustrated, I wandered into the tide to have a look at a log (about 2.5 metres long) which the waves were washing in to the beach. What I discovered astonished me. At first I thought I was looking at 2 forms of sea-life, shellfish and a strange sort of seaweed. But then I discovered that what I thought were shellfish were actually attached to ends of monstrous worm-like arms which moved around. I'd never seen anything like it. Co-incidentally, a couple happened to be walking by and the husband had knowledge of sea life. Apparently, what I had thought were shellfish were actually the heads and filtering system for a monstrous worm-like life form, the tail-ends of which were anchored to the log. The sad part of the story is that the creature will not survive now because, to continue to live, it needs to be under the ocean surface. I remain amazed and grateful for what I have seen and photographed, though not to the extent that could ever approve of what those people on 4-wheel motor bikes where doing to the beach and the dunes.
Thanks to Peter Langlands: "Goose barnacles are a type of shrimp that lives in a casing"

More messages from your neighbours
1 day ago

Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

🎉 2026 is almost here!

We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?

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Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
  • 10.6% Yes! New Year, New Me
    10.6% Complete
  • 22.1% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
    22.1% Complete
  • 67.3% Nah - not for me
    67.3% Complete
444 votes
12 hours ago

Mute Swan. 2017-1

Paul from Levin

Mute Swan. Note the interesting parallel, horizontal lines on the swan. I suspect they might be created by reflections from the ripples on the water surface. Please enlarge.

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16 hours ago

Quote for the Day

Mike from Paraparaumu

Interviewer:
"Do you think that the British class system has finally ended?"
Upper-middle class Romance author, Dame Barbara Cartland:
"Well, of course it has; otherwise I would't be sitting here, talking to someone like you!"

Happy New Year [hopefully!]
Mike