Bees. Bees man. Right when you think you're living in happy harmony with the little flying she-devils, one flies up your skirt and in a flurry of jostled confusion jabs her stinger into your butt. I would show you a picture but that would be inappropriate. Now I grew up on a farm. Bee stings are meh.... nothing to worry about. Although I haven't been stung in years, I expected that it would be a bit sore, then itch, then go away in short order. It would appear that my sensitivity to being injected with honey bee poison has drastically increased. Here I was laughing at the Otter about his jumpiness regarding bees... and was delivered a swift kick in the rear by a karma bound honey bee.
Being of a curious nature, I decided I need to know
why the venom has the effect it does. A chemical called melittin appears to be the primary pain inducer, stimulating pain receptors in the skin. Your body, in response to this nastiness, frees fluid from the blood in the area to flush out the venom. If you
have been stung before by this species your immune system will recognize the venom and boost disposal of the venom. So that makes sense... But my body, not having been stung in many years, doesn't have that immune system boost anymore. And thus I have a 4 inch diameter swollen itchy circle on my posterior where excess fluid has pooled and is trying to do its good work.
Anyway...
A few weekends ago I went on a little road trip. The first day I went back to Cape Kiwanda in the early morning to wander around some more.
As usual there were lots of crabs scurrying around and pretending that if they froze no on would see them. Or snapping their little claws at the giant looming over them like they are super duper intimidating.
Plenty of barnacles for all! The one on the left is good and dead, with its feeding legs stuck out.
That's right, more anemones! You've got your giant green anemone...
Our mystery anemone....
And the aggregating anemone. See there? There's lots.
An isopod! Never had seen a marine isopod before, what a nice surprise!
Often times there are little jellies that get washed up.
Little something or other eggs. Unfortunately I didn't see any red trumpet tube worms (right) suspended in water, but saw many sitting out of water. They have feathery feeding structures that emerge from the tubes to snatch up edibles as they float past.
And here we have another tidepool sculpin, waiting in little nook for the tide to rise again. I mentioned before (Cape Kiwanda post) that they are amphibious, which is rather splendid.
A few other animals...
More pigeon guillemots displaying their bright red throats. Several turkey vultures were scouring the beach for tasty morsels.
First, I know nothing about boats, fishing, anything of that nature. Its not surprising then that I was rather in awe of these men who back their trucks into the sea, then gun it pulling their trailers out from under their dories. Then to land the boat, they fly up out of the water onto the beach at high speed, skidding across the sand. Did see one truck get stuck, tires spinning deep ruts in the sand...
A few things in bloom on the beach. Below is a nice rush showing off its incomplete flower and gargantuan stamen.
The most striking aspect of this beach is the landscape.
Top of the sand dune looking out. Its a big dune. My legs got pretty sore from scrabble/sliding all over it.
Its a beautiful place. You should go! Have a marvelous Friday!
Plenty of barnacles for all! The one on the left is good and dead, with its feeding legs stuck out.
Little something or other eggs. Unfortunately I didn't see any red trumpet tube worms (right) suspended in water, but saw many sitting out of water. They have feathery feeding structures that emerge from the tubes to snatch up edibles as they float past.
First, I know nothing about boats, fishing, anything of that nature. Its not surprising then that I was rather in awe of these men who back their trucks into the sea, then gun it pulling their trailers out from under their dories. Then to land the boat, they fly up out of the water onto the beach at high speed, skidding across the sand. Did see one truck get stuck, tires spinning deep ruts in the sand...
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