Aquarium Macro and Mobile Octopus

Geordie got his macro lens and has been taking pictures of all things small and wee.  Like the below Grunt Sculpin which is one of his favorites at the aquarium.  They aren't much bigger than a postage note but with the right camera you can get right in and get detail that you may have missed.

The below being from another world is a Hooded Nudibranch. Steven, Geordie and I had to look this one in our big marine life book as we had no idea what it could be.  It looks like a huge mouthed horror but actually the biggest ones are as half as long as your hand.  Nudibranchs come in so much variety they are one of my favorite squishy things in the ocean.

Speaking of squishy things the Giant Pacific Octopus at the Vancouver Aquarium has grown so large that he can no longer fit in his various hidey holes.  While we used to play 'spot the octopus' its now splashed all over his tank.  They can grow to 9 metres across.  I have unofficially named this one one Splortch. 

Shameless Kodiak Fan Service

I almost wrote this post in that internet catspeak. You know LOLZ and hazing Cheezeburgerz.  But than I decided not too to preserve my sanity.  Also Kodiak told me in no uncertain terms that he has not LOLed in his life and would never do so.  He does browl.  No go look at my kitty and his lovely eyes and soft furrrrrrrr. 

So black accept for when he is in the sun.  Than it is revealed he is the colour of root beer.  That was his name when we got him but he is so much of a bear that we renamed him Kodiak.  Apparently he was Darwin before he was Rootbeer but the in-laws have a cat named Darwin so he couldn't be Darwin either.

He likes looking at his photos too.  I think I was dangling something for him to play with to get that cute photo.  His eyes are so big!  He likes having his head bashed about and his cheecks wuddled.  Touching his paws his a declaration of war though and he will cut you.

arp arp ARP arp ARP ARP arp arp ARP ARP

Over the Easter long weekend Geordie and I went to Vancouver Island. Without a large amount of time we could not go to our usual haunt of Telegraph Cove. Instead we stayed at a lovely place in Qualicum Bay off the beaten path.  Just a short ways North close to Bowser is Fanny Bay. Where these guys that we heard ALL NIGHT LONG.  They are of course, California Sea Lions.  The sound kind of like this.  Arp Arp arp ARP ARP arp AAARRRRP! .....ARP.  arp arp arp Arp.

There were many many dozens hauled out at Fanny Bay.  Some Stellers in there too! All males (originally typoed that as all balls which is equally correct).  The ladies are further south having babies so this is the boys club.  There are yearlings and old mature senior males that don't take no crap from anyone.

 

The fellow on the left is younger maybe 2 years. The follow on the right is quite a bit older as his mane and well developed sagital crest attest too.  They look like different species but no.  Just different ages.  They tusselled a bit, but not seriously.  The guy on the right certainly made his space though in contrast to the cuddled heaps above.   HEAPS!  and ARP!!!!