Flamingos

Pulicat Lagoon is the second largest brackish water lagoon in India, after Chilika Lake. Pulicat Lagoon is considered to be the second largest brackish water body in India measuring 759* km2. The Lagoon is one the three important wetlands to attract North-East Monsoon rain clouds during October to December season to Tamil Nadu. (AP) The lagoon was cut across in the middle the Sriharikota Link Road, which divided the water body into lake and marshy land. The lake encompasses the Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary.

Every year approximately 15,000 greater flamingos are reported to visit the lake along with pelicans, kingfishers, herons, painted storks, spoonbills and ducks. The highest concentrations of flamingo are found in the periphery of the lagoon where the water level is below40 centimetres (16 in). The concentrations of flamingos are also associated with high algal, fish and benthic diversity.

Digital Camera

The Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) is a large flippered marine mammal with a discontinuous distribution about the North Pole in the Arctic Ocean and subarctic seas of the Northern Hemisphere. The walrus is the only living species in the family Odobenidae and genus Odobenus.

Adult walruses are easily recognized by their prominent tusks, whiskers, and bulkiness. Adult males in the Pacific can weigh more than 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) and, among pinnipeds, are exceeded in size only by the two species of elephant seals. Walruses live mostly in shallow waters above the continental shelves, spending significant amounts of their lives on the sea ice looking for benthic bivalve mollusks to eat. Walruses are relatively long-lived, social animals, and they are considered to be a "keystone species" in the Arctic marine regions.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the walrus was heavily exploited by American and European sealers and whalers, leading to the near extirpation of the Atlantic population. Commercial walrus harvesting is now outlawed throughout its range, although Chukchi, Yupik and Inuit peoples continue to kill small numbers towards the end of each summer.

Currently, two of the three walrus subspecies are listed as "least-concern" by the IUCN, while the third is "data deficient". (wikipedia)

I was very fortunate to see quite a few Walrus on my recent trip in the Arctic with Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic. Amazing mammals and a thrill to watch them. This was part of a large haul out at Kapp Lee (78° 6′ 53.64″ N, 20° 49′ 41.52″ E), a headland on the northwest point of Edgeøya, Svalbard.

Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia

Freshwater lake Pahang, Malaysia

There are 2 species of freshwater sole, the white mouth & black mouth sole. This is the white mouth sp.

Length: 1.5 inches (Still a baby), maximum 8 cm (3.14 inches).

Found along the bottom in flowing water and reportedly also in the brackish water of the lower courses of rivers. Feeds primarily on benthic invertebrates. Marketed fresh, often in mixed catches

Betty found this sea star as it literally ran across the bottom on its tube feet.

day octopus

Day Octopus

Wikipedia: The surf scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) is a large sea duck native to North America. Adult males are almost entirely black with characteristic white patches on the forehead and the nape and adult females are slightly smaller and browner. Surf scoters breed in Northern Canada and Alaska and winter along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America. Those diving ducks mainly feed on benthic invertebrates, mussels representing an important part of their diet.

Conservation status: Least Concern

day octopus

devil scorpionfish

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagos,_Portugal

Lagos (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈlaɣuʃ], literally lakes, from the Latin lacobriga) is a municipality at the mouth of Bensafrim River and along the Atlantic Ocean, in the Barlavento region of the Algarve, in southern Portugal.[4]

The main town of Lagos (which includes only the parishes of Santa Maria and São Sebastião) has a population of approximately 22,000 residents, while the municipality supports a resident population of 31,048 inhabitants.[5] Typically, these numbers increase during the summer months, with the influx of visiting tourists and seasonal residents. While the majority of the population lives along the coast and works in tourism and services, the inland region is sparsely inhabited, with the majority of the people working in agriculture and forestry.

Lagos is one of the most visited cities in the Algarve and Portugal, due to its variety of tourist-friendly beaches, bars, restaurants, and hotels, renowned for its vibrant summer nightlife and parties. Yet, Lagos is also a historic centre of the Portuguese Age of Discovery, frequent home of Henry the Navigator, historical shipyard and, at one time, centre of the European slave trade[6]. In 2012, travel website TripAdvisor, classified Lagos as the number 1 travel destination, on a list of "15 destinations on the rise" worldwide.

Lagos is an ancient maritime town with more than 2000 years of history. The name Lagos comes from a Celtic origin, derived from the Celtic Lacobriga, the name of the settlement was established during the pre-Punic civilizations. It became a early settlement of the Carthaginians, who recruited Celtic tribesmen in their war against the Romans (the Punic Wars). Owing to its already important harbour, it was colonized by the Romans and integrated into the Roman province of Lusitania, becoming known as Lacobriga. Quintus Sertorius, a rebellious Roman general, helped by the Lusitanians of Lacobriga (who had been oppressed under Roman Generals and members of Lucius Cornelius Sulla party), successfully defeated the Roman army of Caecilius Metellus Pius probably at nearby Monte Molião.

With the fall of Roma, the towns of Lagos were occupied in the 6th century by the Visigoths from the Kingdom of Toledo and later by the Byzantines.

The Moors arrived in the 8th century from North Africa, renaming the settlement Zawaia (meaning lago, or lake). It became part of the much larger coastal region of al-Gharb, which eventually became known as the algarve. The Moors fortified the town and established important trade links to Northern Africa from their bases in the Iberian peninsula. In 1174, the local Wāli gave permission for the Christian peoples to construct a church dedicated to São João Baptista, which was built outside the town's walls (becoming the oldest church in the Algarve).

Kingdom

Even as King Afonso Henriques advanced to the south, the Christian Reconquista never made it into Algarve and Alentejo, and remained under Moorish control. King Sancho I, with the support of Crusader forces used Lagos as a stepping stone to attack the fortress of Alvôr.[8] Zawaia was eventually captured by King Afonso III of Portugal in 1241, but was only taken definitively in 1249. From this period on the King began self-styling himself as the "King of Portugal and the Algarve", stressing the fact that the Algarve (which had for so long been ruled by the Moors as a foreign country) had been annexed into the dominion of the Portuguese. Lagos became an independent jurisdiction under the rule of King Peter I in 1361.

King John I assembled his fleet in the harbour of Lagos, before setting sail for the siege and conquest of the city of Ceuta in 1415. This was the first step in opening the Muslim world to medieval Europe, which in fact led to the Age of Discovery with Portuguese explorers sailing across the whole world. By the 15th century, Lagos became the centre of Portuguese martime exploration, with ships ordered south to trace the shoreline of Africa in order to find routes to India. Infante Henry the Navigator, third son of King John, lived most of the time in Lagos. From here he directed expeditions to Morocco and to the western coast of Africa with caravels, lateen-rigged ships with excellent seafaring capabilities. Lagos was also the home port for Gil Eanes who was the first to sail beyond Cape Bojador in 1434, after a failed attempt in 1433 that put him out of favour with the, then considered the end of the world. The act of rounding the Cape, much like the later rounding of the Cape of Good Hope, permitted Eanes (and the navigators that followed) to advance into the African subcontinent. When, by 1443, Lançarote (then fiscal officer of the crown) had sailed as far as Arguim and brought back 275 Africans, the Portuguese had sufficient slaves to relieve the perpetual handicap of agricultural labour.[9]

Over the following decades, news of discoveries and achievements, and ships loaded with spices and goods would flow into the port of Lagos. It was also the gateway for the first African slaves into post-medieval Europe.[10] Even before Africa was opened-up to the Portuguese, the seamen of Lagos were already enthusiastic slave-catchers.[11] From the first slave markets in Lagos (the Mercado de Escravos, which opened in 1444), many Africans were dispersed throughout Europe, bringing a considerable income to the Portuguese monarchy and merchant classes, as well as cheap labour force.[10] As the major sponsor of these expeditions, Prince Henry received one-fifth of the selling price of every slave. The demand for the indentured labour force was so high that, by 1450, profit on Mauritanian slaves was 700 percent.[12] The discovery of gold by Alfonso Gonçales also increased activities in Lagos, whose residents petitioned the Infante Henry to establish a trading company to pursue gold deposits in the region.[13] This included Juan Dias (ancestor of Bartolomeu Dias who rounded the Cape of Good Hope), Gil Eanes, Lançarote de Freitas, Estevan Alfonso and Rodrigo Alvarez, who provisioned a squadron of six caravels to travel to isle of Garças in 1444, but returned with 150 Africans.[13]

Following the death of Prince Henry, and the expansion into the Atlantic and New World, the port of Lagos continued to receive shipments of goods and slaves, but its role began to decrease. Lisbon, began to prosper, with ships returning directly from the colonies of the Azores, Madeira and Brazil, while trading houses began to relocate to the capital. But, even as the wealth arrived in Lisbon and Lagos, the ostentation was widely on display in the royal residences.[14]

King Sebastian, obsessed with his plans for a great crusade against the Kingdom of Fez, assembled a huge fleet in Lagos in 1578.[15] During this ill-fated attempt he and most of Portugal's nobility were killed in the Battle of Ksar El Kebir in Morocco, eventually causing a succession crisis, that eventually resulted in the Iberian Union.

When Portugal came under Spanish rule, the Portuguese coast became a target for the English fleet. Lagos, close to the Spanish naval base of Cadiz, was attacked by Sir Francis Drake in the late 1580s, but was defended by its inhabitants, resulting in Drakes sack of Faro.[16] But, the coast was under regular attack of other pirates and corsairs, in addition to the Spanish who bombarded the Algarve during the Portuguese Restoration War (1640–1668), which led to the construction of a string of forts all along the coast. One of them was the late 17th century Ponta da Bandeira Fort in Lagos, which was completed between 1679 and 1690 (according to the stone inscription over the main door).

From 1576 to 1755, Lagos was a high-profile capital of the Algarve, until the old Portuguese town was destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami of 1755. Although some walls from the 16th century still remain, as well as the governor's castle, many of the buildings are from the 17th century.

Two well-known naval battles took place off Lagos, reflecting its strategic location: in the Battle of Lagos (1693) a French flotilla defeated a combined Anglo-Dutch force, while in the Battle of Lagos (1759) a British force defeated a French force.

Geography

Physical geography

By its geographical position (east-northeast to west-southwest orientation) and lithological diversity, the Algarve stands out as unique stratigraphic and morpho-tectonicregion.[17] A peripheral Carboniferous unit of the Variscan orogeny, it constitutes the Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary layers, deposited onto two totally distinct superimposed basins.[17] Between the Middle-Upper Triassic to Hettangian, sediments evolved from continental (fluvial red sandstone) to shallow marine over the entire region, which included instances of evaporates, tholeiite fissural magmas, lava flows, volcanic ash and pyroclasts.[17]

The area of Lagos, conforms to the Middle Miocene Lagos-Portimão formation (a band that extends along the coast from Lagos to Albufeira, abutting the Serra do Caldeirão to the north) and which corresponds to marine sedimentation over relatively stable, but a minorly deformed limestone shelf platform.[17][18][19] A period of calm during the intra-Miocene (of approximately 2.4 Ma) led to generalized exposure and development of karst, that influences the present day coastline.[17][19] The conspicuous horizontal bending of this profile in the cliffs of Lagos, much like the remainder of the Lagos-Portimão formation, is formed by alternating bands of siliciclastic and calcareous lithologies.[18] The low degree of cementation in the layers causes a high degree of instability of the cliffs.[18] The littoral and cliff sands are dominated by various bivalve organisms, bryozoans, larger benthic foraminifers and Coralline algaewith minor additions of echinoids and balanids implying a shallow-water depositional system of a warm-temperate climatic regime.[18] The locality of Cerro das Mós, from where a large crocodilian (Tomistoma schlegelii) tooth was collected long ago,[20] has also produced some Odontoceti teeth. These may be dated from the Serravallian, which, constitute the oldest marine mammal occurrence in Algarve.[

Ecoregions/Protected areas

Lagos has many natural interest sites, including:

•Ponta da Piedade (English: Mercy Point)

•Grutas da Costa d'Oiro (English: Golden Coast Grottos)

•Laguna de Alvor (English: Lagoon of Alvor)

•Mata Nacional de Barão de S.João (English: National Forest of the Baron of Saint John), representing a varied flora that includes Pine (Pinaceae), Acacia (Acacia), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus) and Strawberry trees (Arbutus unedo), with six pedestrian trails and six campsites. In the zone of Pedra Branca, is a Paleolithic menhir, called the Menhir of Pedro do Galo, accessible through the pedestrian trails, visitors can use the tables and picniking areas near the guardhouse for barbecues, while small children have access to a playground. A public sports field and 100 metre interval obstacle course was also constructed to attract activity, near the picnic area.

Beaches

•Meia Praia (Half Beach) — consisting of soft, white sand, Meia Praia is one of the largest open bays in Europe, resulting in calm seas, permitting conditions for many nautical sports, while cliffs provide sheltered coves from strong windy conditions;

•Praia Solaria (Sunny Beach);

•Praia da Batata (Potato Beach) — a small beach tucked between two small cliffs (where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean), it is known for the small music festivals that take place there during summer;

•Praia dos Estudantes (Students' Beach);

•Praia da Dona Ana (Dona Ana Beach) - probably the most frequented beach by tourists, its areal is slightly thicker than the beaches in the surrounding area and it is surrounded by striking rock formations. At high tide the beach is split by the geomorphology of the cliffs;

•Praia do Canavial (Canavial Beach);

•Praia de Camilo (Camilo Beach);

•Praia da Luz (Beach of Light) - located in the parish of Luz, the beach is bounded in the east by Rocha Negra (English: Black Rock), providing summer vactioners with a popular escape during the summer.

Human geography

The municipality of Lagos is located approximately 35 kilometers east of the Cape St. Vincent coast, along the southern coast of the Algarve. It is surrounded along its borders by the municipalities of Vila do Bispo (to the west), Aljezur (to the northwest), Monchique (to the northeast) and Portimão (to the east).

To the north of Lagos is the road to Silves, the first capital of Algarve, Monchique (spa town/mountain), Milfontes, a coastal town and port/harbour of the city of Sines, that winds through the scenic protected landscape of the Southwest Natural Park (Costa Sudoeste Alentejana e Vicentina).

Population of

Lagos

(1801 - 2011)

YearPop.±%

18019,789—

184911,012+12.5%

190013,937+26.6%

193016,210+16.3%

196017,060+5.2%

198119,700+15.5%

199121,526+9.3%

200125,398+18.0%

200929,298+15.4%

201130,755+5.0%

The municipality is composed of the following 6 parishes:

•Barão de São João

•Bensafrim - with approximately 8600 inhabitants (2001 Census), the parish was based on the Arabic settlement of Benassaharim, developing slowly until the 20th century (when even in the 1950s donkey or oxen were used as means of conveyance). Its current claim to fame is their annual fair held on the 25–26 August;

•Praia da Luz - a tourist-oriented civil parish with less than 3068 residents (2001 Census), its growth was attributed vacationers and sunseekers who flocked to its beaches throughout the summer. Popular by foreign visitors, it was notoriously identified with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann and the resulting investigation in 2007;

•Odiáxere

•Santa Maria

•São Sebastião

towns — Sister cities

Lagos is twinned with:

• Torres Vedras, district of Lisbon, Portugal

• Ribeira Grande, island of São Miguel, Azores

• Ribeira Grande de Santiago, island of Santiago, Cape Verde

• Palos de la Frontera, autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain

Economy

Lagos' economy, like many coastal towns in Portugal, has always been closely linked to the sea, and fishing has been an important activity since very ancient times. Since 1960, the city has embracedtourism, which has become its most important economic activity. It has beautiful beaches, good climate, the sea, a scenic coastline, and historical patrimony.

The Marina de Lagos has 460 berths and has become an important centre for long-distance cruisers, and it is also known for its modern drawbridge.

Lagos also has plenty of cultural and night-life entertainment venues.

Architecture

Prehistoric

•Menhir of Cabeço do Rochedo (Portuguese: Menir da Cabeço do Rocheado)

Civic

•Barracks of the Guarda Fiscal of Lagos (Portuguese: Quartel e Posto da Guarda Fiscal)

•Building of the Caixa Geral de Depósitos (Portuguese: Edifício da Caixa Geral de Depositos)

•Building of the Correios, Telégrafos e Telefonos (Portuguese: Edifício dos Correios, Telégrafos e Telefones de Lagos)

•Building of the Portagem (Portuguese: Edifício Antigo da Portagem)

•District Courthouse/Palace of Justice (Portuguese: Tribunal da Comarca/Palácio da Justiça)

•District Jailhouse of Lagos/Cultural Centre of Lagos (Portuguese: Cadeia Comarcã de Lagos/Centro Cultural)

•D. Maria Bridge (Portuguese: Ponte Dona Maria)

•Fonte Coberta Dam (Portuguese: Barragem da Fonte Coberta)

•Gil Eanes Secondary/Commercial-Industrial School (Portuguese: Escola Industrial e Comercial de Lagos/Escola Secundária Gil Eanes)

•Hotel Tivolli Lagos (Portuguese: Hotel de Lagos)

•Municipal Hall of Lagos (Portuguese: Edifício dos Paços do Concelho)

•Lighthouse of Ponta da Piedade (Portuguese: Farol da Ponta da Piedade)

•Pillory of Lagos (Portuguese: Pelourinho de Lagos)

•Regional Museum of Lagos (Portuguese: Museu Regional de Lagos) - this modest regional museum is located next to the church of Santo António.,[22] housing the eclectic collection of archaeological finds from prehistory and the Neolithic, in addition to minerals, Roman mosaics, Moorish oil-lamps and pottery. The ethnographic section includes exhibits from life in the Algarve, that includes not only residential, but also military artefacts, such as swords, muskets and cannonballs, and the foral (charter) issued by King Manuel for Lagos. Religious artefacts are also prominent in the displays, that include the sacerdotal vestments worn by the canons who said Holy Mass to King Sebastian (before he left on his ill-fated conquest of Morocco), and a diptych (dating from the 16th century) with scenes from the Annunciation and Presentation of Jesus at the Temple.

•Slave Market/Customshoues of Lagos (Portuguese: Mercado de Escravos/Vedoria/Alfândega de Lagos)

Military

•Bulwark of Alcaria/Freiras (Portuguese: Baluarte da Alcaria/das Freiras)

•Bulwark of Porta dos Quartos (Portuguese: Baluarte da Porta dos Quartos)

•Bulwark of Santa Maria/Porta da Vila (Portuguese: Baluarte de Santa Maria/da Porta da Vila)

•Bulwark of São Francisco/Jogo da Bola (Portuguese: Baluarte de São Francisco/do Jogo da Bola)

•Castle of Senhora da Luz (Portuguese: Castelo da Senhora da Luz)

•Fort of Meia Praia (Portuguese: Forte da Meia Praia)

•Fort of Ponta da Bandeira (Portuguese: Forte da Ponta da Bandeira) - also known as the Forte do Pau da Bandeira, the Forte de Nossa Senhora da Penha de França or the Forte do Registo, the fort, which guarded the entrance to the harbour, was originally dedicated to the Santa Virgem Senhora da Penha de França (to which it was referred).[23] This squat rectangular fort guards the entrance to the harbour, accessed by a smalldrawbridge, to terraced spaces (that overlook the town, beach and harbour) and the small chapel (decorated with 17th century azulejos tile). Until the late 20th century, the fort was used as a service depot for military forces and housed services linked to maritime activities (such as supplies for lifeboats and nautical sports). It was restored between 1958 and 1960, and officially acquired by the municipality of Lagos in 1983m where it was converted into exhibition displays of maritime history, with astrolabes and models of caravels.

•Fort of Pinhão (Portuguese: Forte do Pinhão)

•Military Barracks of Lagos (Portuguese: Edifício Militar em Lagos/Trem de Artilharia)

•Musketeers' Workshop/Warehouse and Saddlery (Portuguese: Edifício Oficina do Espingardeiro/Armazém do Espingardeiro/Selaria)

•Regimental Warehouse/Church of São Brás (Portuguese: Armazém Regimental e Desparecido Igreja de São Brás)

•Tower of Atalaia (Portuguese: Torre da Atalaia)

•Walled/Tower Fortifications of Lagos (Portuguese: Muralhas e Torreões de Lagos)

Religious

•Chapel/Hermitage of São João Baptista (Portuguese: Capela/Ermida de São João Baptista)

•Church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo (Portuguese: Igreja da Nossa Senhora do Carmo)

•Church of Nossa Senhora da Luz (Portuguese: Igreja da Nossa Senhora da Luz)

•Church of Odiáxere (Portuguese: Igreja de Odiáxere)

•Church of Santa Maria (Portuguese: Igreja de Santa Maria/da Misericórdia)

•Church of Santo António (Portuguese: Igreja de Santo António) - its simple façade with the asymmetrical bell towers, date from 1715, and contrast sharply with the extravagantly decorated interior, which is covered in gilded wood carvings and blue-and-white 18th century azulejo tiles (talha dourada) which fill the walls of the nave, while six Baroque paintings by José Joaquim Rasquinho, representing the miracles of Saint Anthony are hung on its walls. The wooden vault was painted with a trompe-l'oeil effect, while polychrome statues of cherubs playing with animals and fishes are scattered within the interior. It was one of the few buildings to survive the Great Earthquake of 1755, reconstructed by the local commander of Regimental Infantry, who may have added the polychromatic statue of St. Anthony with military sash. Purportedly, King Sebastian attended his last mass in this church, before his ill-fated expedition to Morocco.* Convent of Nossa Senhora do Loreto (Portuguese: Convento de Nossa Senhora do Loreto)

•Church of São Sebastião (Portuguese: Igreja de São Sebastião/de Nossa Senhora da Conceição)

•Hermitage of São Pedro de Pulgão/Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos (Portuguese: Ermida de São Pedro do Pulgão/Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos)

•Ruins of the Hermitage of Santo Amaro (Portuguese: Ruinas da Ermida de São Amaro)

•Ruins of the Convent of the Trinity (Portuguese: Ruinas do Antigo Convento da Trinidade/dos Frades Trinos)

Culture

Many local traditions are celebrated in the municipality and range from gastronomy to traditional handicrafts.

In gastronomy, there are the local specialties: Dom rodrigos and morgados cookies based on local products, such as almonds, figs and eggs. Lagos is also a wine producing region and is famous for its moscatel wine, and also for a strong alcoholic spirit, the aguardente de medronho, made of berries of strawberry tree.

Notable citizens

•São Gonçalo de Lagos (c. 1370 - Torres Vedras; 15 October 1422), saint of the Order of Saint Augustine

•Soeiro da Costa (c. 1390 — c. 1472), navigator and one of the Heroic Twelve of the Lusiadas

•Gil Eanes (born 15th century - died 15th century), navigator and explorer of the 15th century

•Lançarote de Freitas (born 15th century - died 15th century), navigator and merchant during the 15th century

•Júlia Barroso (11 August 1930 - Lisboa; 23 December 1996) actress, singer and teacher

•Júlio Dantas (19 May 1876 — Lisboa; 25 May 1962), doctor, poet, journalist, screenwriter, politician and diplomat

•José Reis, first Portuguese geriatric medic

banded coral shrimp

Commerson's frogfish

decoy scorpionfish

Commerson's frogfish

There were at least 20,000 birds easily!

www.wirral.gov.uk/my-services/leisure-and-culture/parks-b...

Dee Estuary

The Dee Estuary is of special interest for its total populations of internationally important wintering waterfowl; its populations of individual waterfowl and tern species, whose numbers reach national and in some cases, internationally important levels; its intertidal mud and sandflats, saltmarsh and transitional habitats; the hard rocky sandstone cliffs of Hilbre Island and Middle Eye with their cliff vegetation and maritime heathland and grassland; its assemblage of nationally scarce plants; and its populations of Sandhill Rustic Moth Luperina nickerlii gueneei, a Red Data Book species.

The Dee is a large funnel shaped estuary which lies between the Wirral Peninsula, England and Flintshire, North East Wales.

It was formerly much more extensive but large scale reclamation of intertidal land has occurred, principally at the head of the estuary. This followed the canalisation of the River Dee in the eighteenth century when an attempt was made to secure the continuation of Chester as a port.

The estuary contains extensive areas of intertidal sand and mudflats which support a variable but characteristic benthic fauna depending on the nature of the substrate.

Large areas of saltmarsh also occur at its head and along part of its north-eastern shore. The estuary continues to accrete and further saltmarshes are developing, particularly on the English shoreline.

Within the estuary, the three small sandstone islands of Hilbre, Middle and Little Eye provide the only hard natural rock coast habitat along this section of coastline.

A largely unvegetated shingle ridge occurs at the Point of Ayr. Although yellow embryo dunes occur at its western end, these are susceptible to erosion from wave action.

The Dee Estuary is one of the most important estuaries in Britain and amongst the most important in Europe for its populations of waders and wildfowl. The estuary is particularly important for its wintering bird populations and both waders and wildfowl achieve numbers of international importance.

The estuary supports internationally important populations of a number of wader species, namely, Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus, Knot Calidris canutus, Curlew Numenius arquata, Redshank Tringa totanus, Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica, Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa, Grey Plover Pluviatilis squatarola and Dunlin Calidris alpina.

The waders utilise the abundant invertebrate populations principally on the extensive intertidal flats, particularly the mudflats. Several wading bird species also make extensive use of the coastal grazing marshes and fields adjoining the estuary for feeding and roosting.

Around the estuary are a number of high tide roost sites; principal sites include the Hilbre Islands, the foreshore at West Kirby, the shingle spit at Point of Ayr and the saltmarshes at Oakenholt. Wildlfowl present in internationally important numbers include Pintail Anas acuta, for which the Dee and Mersey have been the principal British wintering estuaries for many years, Teal Anas crecca and Shelduck Tadorna tadorna, whilst Wigeon Anas penelope occur in nationally important numbers.

The Dee Estuary is also an important staging post for migrating birds, during both spring and autumn. Nationally important numbers of Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula are regularly seen on passage. In addition, the summering flock of non-breeding Black-tailed Godwit, one of the largest in the United Kingdom, is regarded as of national importance.

The Dee Estuary also supports nationally important numbers of breeding Common Tern Sterna hirundo. These birds historically nested on the Burton Marshes where they were frequently inundated by spring tides. They now nest on specially developed habitats on lagoons within the Shotton Steelworks complex. Numbers have shown a slow but steady increase since the 1970's.

The large breeding population of Redshank, which utilise the ungrazed and lightly grazed saltmarshes for nesting, is regarded as of national significance.

The Dee Estuary also supports nationally important flocks of Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, which occur throughout the year and Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus, peak numbers of which occur in the autumn during the moult.

The Dee Estuary supports extensive areas of saltmarsh vegetation and exhibits a complete succession from early pioneer vegetation colonising intertidal flats through lower, middle and upper saltmarsh types to brackish and freshwater transitions at the top of the shore.

Although land reclamation has led to a loss of many of these natural transitions, there are still a number of areas, particularly on the English shoreline, around Neston and Parkgate, where transitions to swamp vegetation still occur. These are dominated usually by Common Reed Phragmites australis and Sea Club-rush Bolboschoenus maritimus.

On the Welsh shoreline this habitat feature is limited to areas around Connah's Quay and to the south east of Flint. In north east Wales, swamp vegetation is scarce generally and the more extensive areas adjacent to the estuary, including those at Shotton, are therefore important.

The saltmarshes themselves support a variety of vegetation communities characteristic of estuaries in northern and western Britain. The Dee Estuary supports a large area of marsh dominated by Common Cord Grass Spartina anglica. Its current extent reflects the fact that the estuary continues to accrete following historical land claim. Species such as Glasswort Salicornia sp. and Annual Seablite Suaeda maritima are also present.

Much of the saltmarsh remains ungrazed and this has allowed extensive stands of species intolerant of grazing to develop, such as Sea Purslane Atriplex portulacoides. Where grazing intensity has declined in locations at the top of the shore, rank strandline vegetation dominated by Common Couch Elytrigia repens and Sea Couch Elytrigia atherica has developed.

Of particular note within the reclaimed land on the Ministry of Defence ranges adjacent to the estuary, is saltmarsh characterised by Saltmarsh Flat-sedge Blysmus rufus, a species close to its southern limit in north Wales. Although the saltmarshes are generally species poor, the nationally scarce species, Slender Hare's-ear Bupleurum tenuissimum is found at Connah's Quay, at its northern British limit of occurrence.

The three sandstone islands which comprise the Hilbre Island complex represent the only natural hard rock coast within the estuary and are the only examples of this habitat between the limestone cliffs of the Creuddyn Peninsula and the sandstone cliffs of St. Bee's Head in Cumbria.

Consequently, the coastal cliffs and the maritime heathland and grassland on the plateau areas above the cliffs represent the only regional examples of these vegetation types. Although the western Hilbre cliffs are too exposed to support vegetation, the sheltered eastern cliffs support Common Scurvy Grass Cochlearia officinalis and Sea Campion Silene uniflora. The nationally scarce Rock Sea Lavender Limonium britannicum occurs together with the regionally scarce Sea Spleenwort fern Asplenium marinum

The Dee Estuary supports a number of other nationally scarce higher plants in addition to those previously mentioned including Portland Spurge Euphorbia portlandica at Point of Ayr, Variegated Horsetail Equisetum variegatum in the vicinity of the Shotton Steelworks, White Horehound Marrubium vulgare in coastal grazing fields at Point of Ayr and White Mullein Verbascum lychinitis on basic slag waste at Shotton and Flint.

The Red Data Book species, Sandhill Rustic Moth Luperina nickerlii gueneei occurs within the estuary towards its mouth on both the English and Welsh shorelines.

The presence of a large herd of Grey Seal Halichoerus gypus, is considered to be of regional interest. These haul out on West Hoyle Bank, though breed elsewhere. The presence of breeding Reed Warblers Acroccphalus scirpaceus, a scarce species in North Wales, in reedbeds in and adjacent to the estuary, is of interest. The presence of the uncommon anadromous fish, Smelt Osmerus eperlnnus, is also of note.

Other information:

The Dee Estuary has been designated as a Ramsar Site under the Ramsar Convention of Wetlands of International Importance and as a Special Protection Area (SPA) under the EC Birds Directive (79/409) in July 1985.

The site is nationally important and is listed in 'A Nature Conservation Review' edited by D A Ratcliffe (1977), Cambridge University Press.

This site is contiguous with the following four SSSI: North Wirral Foreshore; Red Rocks; Dee Cliffs; Gronant Dunes and Talacre Warren; and is close to Inner Marsh Farm SSSI.

Hilbre Island together with Middle Eye and Little Eye are managed as a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) by Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.

A number of nature reserves are managed within the site.

The Dee Estuary lies within both England and Wales.

English Nature's Citation Details

Date notified in England:

Date notified in Wales:

File ref: SJ 28/2

Unitary: Flintshire/Denbighshire/Wirral

Site Name: DEE ESTUARY/ABER AFON DYFRDWY

County: Cheshire County Council

District: Ellesmere Port & Neston

Status: Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) notified under Section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended)

Local Planning Authority: Cheshire County Council, Denbighshire County Council, Ellesmere Port 4 Neston Horough Council, Flintshire County Council,Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council

National Grid Reference: SJ 220800

Area: 13,7588 ha, 33,984.2 ac

Area in England: 5,237.1 ha, 12,935.6 ac

Area in Wales: 8,521.7 ha, 21,048.6 ac

Ordnance Survey Sheet: 1: 50,000 108, 116, 117

Date Notified (Under 1949 Act): 1954

Date of Last Revision: 1979

Date Notified (Under 1981 Act): 1984

Date of Last Revision: 1998

The ornate ghost pipefish or harlequin ghost pipefish, Solenostomus paradoxus, is a false pipefish of the family Solenostomidae. The species name comes from the Greek paradoxos, referring to this fish's unusual external features. Ornate ghost pipefish are found in the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean along reef edges prone to strong currents. They reach a maximum length of 12 cm. They vary in color from red or yellow to black and are almost transparent. They feed mostly on mysids and benthic shrimp. Females carry the eggs in their pelvic fins that are modified to form a brood pouch. Although relatively common, ornate ghost pipefish are very well-camouflaged and difficult to find. Anilao, South Luzon, Philippines

Viper Moray

decoy scorpionfish

cushion star

crown-of-thorns sea star

regal slipper lobster

Designed and printed by engineerio. Will be for sale at www.stores.ebay.com/engineerio-s

Thanks for looking! Comments always welcome. PLEASE help spread the word about Customs by engineerio! Thank you for your help!

juvenile Commerson's frogfish

day octopus

A pair of Tiger Cowries shelter in depressions in a reef wall.

The bluecheek butterflyfish is one of the few fish species to have long-term mates. In the wild, the fish eats hard corals as well as benthic invertebrates. This is a common species which is found in areas with rich coral growth. They are frequently recorded in pairs or in small shoals. They have been known to occasionally hover in a stationary position for long periods beneath ledges of plate corals of the genus Acropora. It is oviparous species which forms pairs when spawning. This is normally during the day and the fishes emerge and are active at night. They are found at depths between 1 and 20 metres (3.3 and 65.6 ft).

Usually, I never see small or camouflaged creatures until someone shows them to me. Somehow, I managed to find this Titan Scorpionfish on my own!

Lake Gnarpurt is listed under the Ramsar Convention as a part of the Western District. The Lake is a good example of a brackish wetland on the Western Plains. Such wetlands are thought to be scarce throughout Victoria and are inadequately protected. ..

Lake Gnarpurt is visited by several species included on the CAMBRA and JAMBA lists. The include Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis) and Great Egret (Ardea alba). ..

Rare species of birds recorded at Lake Gnarpurt are Brolga (Grus rubicunda), Freckled Duck (Sticonetta Australis) and Blue-billed Duck (Oxyura australis). ..

Lake Gnarpurt is considered to be significant for its scientific and educational values. Studies may be undertaken on gauging water levels, surface inflows and waterbirds (numbers, migratory patterns, habitat use, and feeding patterns). Invertebrate species may be studied to determine exact status and identify possibly relationships between salinity, sediment type, diversity and abundance. ..

Description ..

Lake Gnarpurt is located in a closed drainage basin approximately 27 kilometres north-east of Colac in the Western District of Victoria. It is a moderately saline, permanent body of water with an average depth of approximately 2.57 metres. The salinity of the Lake shows little seasonal variation. ..

The lakes of the Western District were formed during a period of volcanic activity which began in the Upper Pliocene (1.64 - 5.2 mya) and ended approximately 5 000 years ago. Several lakes in the Camperdown region developed when flowing lava formed discrete tongues that coalesced to form hollows. All are shallow lakes with irregular shorelines. Lake Gnarpurt is a shallow plains lake formed by a water-filled depression between lava flows during the Quaternary (1.64 mya) some authors have suggested that Lake Gnarpurt formed by collapse of volcanic magma after the solution of underlying limestones. Lunettes (dunes) exist around the eastern margins of the larger lakes and have aided studies on the climatic history of the area. The land separating Lake Corangamite and Lake Gnarpurt consists of a low lunette overlying a coxiella shell bed. ..

The invertebrate fauna of the Lake is characteristic of other moderately saline lakes in the region. The most dominant benthic species is Austrochiltonia subtenuis. Other species such as Coxiella sp and Haloniscus searlei are not as abundant in Lake Gnarpurt when compared with other lakes in the area. This may be due to the exposed areas at which samples have been collected. The diversity of insects at the Lake is also comparatively low. There has been no observed difference in the faunal composition of the Lake over the last thirty years. ..

Three species of fish are known to exist in Lake Gnarpurt. These are Short-finned Eel (Anguilla australis) , Common Minnow (Galaxias maculatus) and the introduced Chinook Salmon (Onchorhychus tschawyscha). ..

Flora on Lake Gnarpurt has been studied in little detail. Species recorded on the Lake include Nodularia spumigena, Chaetoceros and Ruppoa megacarpa (the only macrophyte recorded from the Lake). There are no significant stands of vegetation remaining around Lake Gnarpurt as the surrounding land has been cleared for agriculture

Fellow's nudibranch

Commerson's Frogfish

This disheveled, teary-eyed alpha soundly dreams away his daily 14-hours of sleep. Messy though he appears, he is actually the picture of health, returning to the Piedras Blancas Rookery for maybe the 20th+ time, this season for his annual catastrophic molt. The tears? He's not emotional, his species just lacks tear ducts, so eye secretions run down his cheek. In a few weeks he'll swim to Alaska for 2 months, feeding all he can on nutritious benthic prey there. When he returns in late November, then with overflowing testosterone, he'll fight for beach territory to draw a harem, instinctively motivated to join the 1-2% of elephant seal males that will ever mate.

whitemouth moray eel

Triton's trumpet

regal slipper lobster

Contemplating the Sunshine

Leafy Seadragons are beautiful creatures to gaze upon but not always easy to find.

As divers we swim around looking down at the sand, down at the seagrass, down at the sponges and sea-stars and other benthic critters.

This is not the best strategy for seeing a dragon where their intricate leafy body structure blends in with the yellow algae around which they live.

Instead you need to be very close to the bottom and look up towards the sun and just maybe in contemplating the sunshine you will separate a 'leafy' from the leafs.

Photo: Robert Rath, 'Contemplating the Sunshine', 1/320s f/9 ISO640 15mm

... more at wetshutter.com

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

snow goddess nudibranch

The Pacific leaping blenny (Alticus arnoldorum), also known as the leaping rockskipper, is a species of combtooth blenny (family Blenniidae) in the genus Alticus.

The blennies are oviparous, and form distinct pairs when mating. Males can reach a maximum total length of 8 centimetres (3.15 inches). These fish feed primarily on benthic algae, which they consume by scraping off rocky surfaces.

The Pacific leaping blenny is a tropical blenny found in reefs in Samoa and the Marianas, Society, and Cook Islands, in the western and southern Pacific Ocean.

The blennies are noted for leaping from hole to hole in the limestone rocks they inhabit, when disturbed; each of the common names for the species is derived from this. They are able to dwell on land for several hours at a time, and have been reported performing many activities, including foraging and mating while out of the water.

However, they are only able to survive on land during mid tide; if they remain out of water when the tide lowers enough that they cannot be kept moist, they dry out and suffocate

In a study performed by Tonia Hsieh of Temple University, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it was discovered that members of A. arnoldorum are able to thrive on land due to their ability to twist their tails axially at 90 degrees, to propel their bodies. Hsieh noted that the twisting of the tail was a behaviourism unique to A. arnoldorum and species in the genus Andamia; the two genera were subsequently considered terrestria.

This image was taken on Nuku Hiva, the main Island and largest of the Marquesas Archipelago, part of the French Polynesian Island chain in the Pacific Ocean.

The bluecheek butterflyfish is one of the few fish species to have long-term mates. In the wild, the fish eats hard corals as well as benthic invertebrates. This is a common species which is found in areas with rich coral growth. They are frequently recorded in pairs or in small shoals. They have been known to occasionally hover in a stationary position for long periods beneath ledges of plate corals of the genus Acropora. It is oviparous species which forms pairs when spawning. This is normally during the day and the fishes emerge and are active at night. They are found at depths between 1 and 20 metres (3.3 and 65.6 ft).

Pulicat Lagoon is the second largest brackish water lagoon in India, after Chilika Lake. Pulicat Lagoon is considered to be the second largest brackish water body in India measuring 759* km2. The Lagoon is one the three important wetlands to attract North-East Monsoon rain clouds during October to December season to Tamil Nadu. (AP) The lagoon was cut across in the middle the Sriharikota Link Road, which divided the water body into lake and marshy land. The lake encompasses the Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary.

Every year approximately 15,000 greater flamingos are reported to visit the lake along with pelicans, kingfishers, herons, painted storks, spoonbills and ducks. The highest concentrations of flamingo are found in the periphery of the lagoon where the water level is below40 centimetres (16 in). The concentrations of flamingos are also associated with high algal, fish and benthic diversity.Other water birds in the area include spot-billed pelican, seven species of herons and egrets, painted stork, greater flamingos, ducks, 20 species of shorebirds, gulls, terns, little grebe, Indian cormorant, little cormorant, Asian openbill stork, black-headed ibis, Eurasian spoonbill, lesser whistling teal, spotbill duck, great thick-knee and stone curlew. Several species of wintering waterfowl have been noted including bar-headed goose, ruddy shelduck, Eurasian wigeon, common teal, northern pintail, garganey, northern shoveller, common pochard, brown-headed gull, black-headed gull, whiskered tern, gull-billed tern and Caspian tern. Birds of prey which appear in winter are the: white-bellied sea eagle, harriers and peregrine falcons.

The brown dipper (Cinclus pallasii), alternatively known by the common names Pallas's dipper, Asian dipper or the Asiatic dipper, is an aquatic songbird found in the mountains of southern and central Asia. At 22 cm (8.7 in) and 87 grams (3.1 oz), it is the largest of the dippers. This species, which is not often seen, is found at medium to low elevations where mountain streams flow.

The brown dipper can either feed by diving into streams to eat larger benthic organisms, or wade in shallower parts of streams and pick smaller organisms of the bottom. The adults will dive for food from December through April, which is when there are more large benthic organisms. Since this period is also the breeding season of the brown dipper, more food is required, so diving for large food is necessary. However, the adults will forage by wading and picking at the stream bottom for the rest of the year. Brown dipper chicks and fledglings will also forage by diving. One small population wintering at a hot spring in Suntar-Khayata Mountains of Siberia feeds underwater when air temperatures drop below -55 C

tiger cowry

day octopus

Triton's trumpet

The ornate ghost pipefish or harlequin ghost pipefish, Solenostomus paradoxus, is a false pipefish of the family Solenostomidae. The species name comes from the Greek paradoxos, referring to this fish's unusual external features. Ornate ghost pipefish are found in the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean along reef edges prone to strong currents. They reach a maximum length of 12 cm. They vary in color from red or yellow to black and are almost transparent. They feed mostly on mysids and benthic shrimp. Females carry the eggs in their pelvic fins that are modified to form a brood pouch. Although relatively common, ornate ghost pipefish are very well-camouflaged and difficult to find.

Dauin, Negros, Philippines.

peacock flounder

Flowery flounder

Commerson's Frogfish