Apollo Bay

We stopped briefly at this lookout on the way to Apollo Bay. We had no idea about it’s significance; we just needed somewhere to rest for a few minutes

The area near the car park contains a grave site. According to Monument Australia, it is a false grave that

commemorates those from the barquentine “Chittoor” who were drowned in three separate accidents during salvage operations on the barque “W. B. Godfrey” which was wrecked here on 8 March 1891. Those who died were R. Pleace and J.McIntyre on 18 April 1891, C. Boutler on 18 June 1891 and Captain T. Gortley and Seaman V. Godfrey on 8 October 1891.

We are planning to return later to properly explore the beach.

[Read more…] about Quick Visit To Godfrey Creek Lookout

The restrictions had only just been lifted prior to this trip. We were extra cautious. Most business owners were pretty positive and you could see the local community rallying. The lack of tourism – especially from Melbourne and overseas – is definitely having an impact.

[Read more…] about How Is Covid-19 Impacting Apollo Bay? Spring 2020

This is yet another example of mum discovering something interesting while I was in bed, sleep. My mum and nephew had gone rockpooling in the harbour when she noticed this specimen. It piqued the interest of my field naturalist club friend, who had suggested that is slightly resembled Botrylloides violaceus.

B. violaceaus differs from B. Schlosseri due to having double lines instead of the star/ring shape. And, unlike B. Leachii, it is the one colour.

I wasn’t able to photograph this exact specimen again this trip, due to being overwhelmed and not being sure what to photograph. I now have a better idea of what to get next time.

I agree that it doesn’t look like the typical Botryllus schlosseri. It could be because it is the only one I saw on a plant, and parts of the plant could be obscuring it. It could also just be the angle.

We will hopefully find out more next trip.

[Read more…] about Possible Botrylloides Violaceus At Apollo Bay Harbour

It turns out that hunting for Botryllus species means you find all sorts of interesting marine life. I haven’t tried to seek an ID for any species as I’m already overwhelmed. I do love the sheer diversity that is here once you look past the typical rockpool species.

[Read more…] about Marine Life Found When Ascidian Hunting at Apollo Bay Harbour

Mum and were both fascinated by the purple form of Botryllus Schlosseri. It didn’t even click that they were the same species, because the way the zooids (I think) are structured are different. With the orange one, it’s like the flower petals are all connected but there is no center. With the purple ones, the ‘petals’ are a different shames and are connected to a center.

My analogy is crude, but it shows the difficulties when it comes to ascidians. Years ago, I decided that I wouldn’t try to identify them due to their complexity and the potential of becoming overwhelmed. It is ironic that they are now an area I’m focusing on.

It turns out that I had previously seen both the orange and purple form of this species shortly after the sand excavations in Spring, 2018. I’ll be going through older photos to see if it was present prior to this.

[Read more…] about Purple Variant Of Botryllus Schlosseri At Apollo Bay Harbour