Black Tide
CREATURE FEATURE
by Liz Allen
February, 2020
In the past we have posted an occasional article on 'Blue Tides’, with pictures of the various creatures that comprise this phenomenon …
However this year, in the wake of the devastating bush fires, it seems more appropriate to call the tides Black.
A walk along the beach near Merimbula in January. Black waves, black pools of debris left high and dry on the beach, piles of ash and blackened leaves, and wood chips. I finished with filthy feet!!
A lone Silver gull foraging
However there are still treasures to be found to the constant drone of helicopters with their water bombs.
Then, just when I thought the beach was almost back to normal at the end of the month we had another few days of yellow-orange smoke-filled skies .
Taking a late, low tide walk along the beach revealed black waves – definitely not suitable for snorkeling – black pools of debris high and dry on the sand, and piles of ash-blackened leaves and woodchips 20cms deep.
Despite this, the beach again yielded its share of treasures.
Update 10th February: Raincoat on, I took a walk to the sound of thundering surf beside massive grey seas … and discovered some tiny Blue–Black tide remnants. Many Glaucus, Velella and Porpita …. none of which I saw last week!
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