Lots of gorgeous sunshine today for my walk on the beach, but pretty chilly. The air was quite bracing.
I saw lots of bluebottles washed up on the beach at Fingal and even a few people walking along the beach barefoot. Not a good idea because even though the bluebottles are dead their venom can still be active. They can give you a very nasty and painful sting.
I remember this well from a trip to South Africa when the kids were small. Our daughter found these on the beach and picked up a dead one, and the next thing we knew she was screaming because she'd touched her eyes. It took a while for her eyes to calm down, but she was fine. It was a worrying moment for us, as we never knew about the bluebottles! We do now!!!
They are beautiful but nasty little critters. When my sister was little she wrote a story about them and declared they had foot long testicles! I guess in a family of five girls, tentacles and testicles probably weren’t discussed that often... bet the teacher had a good giggle!
Interesting capture and apt warning Babs, in 2011 I was snorkeling in the Whitsundays and had to hire a hooded lycra stinger suit and was advised to cover all exposed skin, I looked a bobby dazzler in it, but in the sea no one could see:)
this one looks a little dried up, hopefully reasonably safe for the walkers. I can hardly believe after all my years at the beach I've never been stung - famous last words...
Your country is beautiful and full of amazing (and sometimes scary) creatures. I would be walking in wellies along that beach, as you know the worst we get here is a wasp sting!
I have never seen these, but like the color. It makes a pretty picture. To me it is a kind of jelly fish and we keep away from all types of jellyfish. So that would have been a good decision!
Cool shot. This species of jellyfish has started to appear in our waters only recently and infrequently. You see them for a very short spell in Spring.
I was a bit confused here as I had heard of the name Man O ‘War but thought it was a particularly vicious jelly fish, I had never on connected the name bluebottle with it so was looking for a bluebottle as in fly! Just googled & now understand! Not to be stepped on at all costs!
@gilbertwood Not so lovely if you tread on one though.
@kjarn We've just got your rain, it is bucketing down today.
@pcoulson Ha ha, would have been nice to see you in your MAMIL outfit.
@pusspup I've never been stung either. Not seen them on the beach here for quite a while.
@pattyblue Ha ha you made me laugh Pat. I have a picture now of you walking along our beach in the middle of summer in your bikini and wellies.
@happysnaps@merrelyn This is a popular surfing beach, wouldn't fancy getting tangled up with one of these.
@happypat Indeed you don't want to come across one of these in the ocean. I think 'bluebottle' is the common Australian, New Zealand and South African term for these creatures.
I know these are quite noxious- even the little jelly fish that wash up on the NJ coastline can have a nasty sting causing rashes and all kinds of skin irritation. Yikes- people walking among them without shoes seems very risky! Good shot.
August 10th, 2020
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@aikiuser @annied @ludwigsdiana @koalagardens I wonder how many people trod on them today.
@dide Oh Dianne what a brilliant story, made me laugh out loud, you cheered up my day.
@dide That's so funny.
@gilbertwood Not so lovely if you tread on one though.
@kjarn We've just got your rain, it is bucketing down today.
@pcoulson Ha ha, would have been nice to see you in your MAMIL outfit.
@pusspup I've never been stung either. Not seen them on the beach here for quite a while.
@pattyblue Ha ha you made me laugh Pat. I have a picture now of you walking along our beach in the middle of summer in your bikini and wellies.
@happysnaps @merrelyn This is a popular surfing beach, wouldn't fancy getting tangled up with one of these.
@happypat Indeed you don't want to come across one of these in the ocean. I think 'bluebottle' is the common Australian, New Zealand and South African term for these creatures.