These interesting little creatures are Christmas Tree Worms. They are a type of tube worm that is fairly common in tropical coral reefs worldwide. They are filter feeders and eat whatever drifts by into their extended fans. The fan also serves as a gill for respiration. There are many fan colors and patterns. The fan on these particular worms were about an inch in diameter. If you approach them too quickly, they instantly retract down into their hole and cover the entrance.
Some landscapes this week.
1-Hawaii
2-High Sierras
3-Sonoran Desert
4-East Sierras
5-West Sierras
Some flowers this week.
Nice cold, clear, Sierra Nevada stream water.
Our 2016 Weekly Photo Calendar using my photography and edited by Yvonne is available through lulu.com. This is our 9th year making these calendars. We always try to keep the price low, so they are basically at cost. Be sure to check out the main lulu.com website as they often offer discount codes during the holidays.
Some wildlife photos tonight.
These two healthy Impala were part of a relatively large herd that I photographed near the Tarangire River in the Tarangire National Park, Tanzania, Africa. Tarangire is a beautiful place with valleys of tall savannah trees, lush undergrowth, and tall grass. It seemed a bit like the Garden of Eden.
We had briefly seen a leopard in the area, and the Impala herd was a little agitated and carefully keeping watch for the leopard. Shortly after taking this photograph, the leopard leapt out of the grass, quickly pounced on one of the Impala, and just a quickly, they both disappeared into the tall grass. The herd, scattered a bit, regrouped around the young, and waited for a minute before reluctantly moving away.
We quietly stayed in the area and watched for signs of the leopard. After about half an hour of waiting, we spotted the leopard in a large nearby tree resting after the kill. It was interesting to see how quickly all the animals reacted and likewise how quickly they relaxed and went back to normal.
California deserts
I always appreciate a nice green place.
Hawaii, Tennessee, California, and Washington
Michael Fuchs Photography 