Last week millions of these tiny creatures washed up on Taranaki Beaches and further south. They are called By-the-Wind-Sailors or velella. While they are not actually jellyfish they are related to bluebottles, or Portuguese Man O' War. But unlike their jellyfish cousins the velella don't sting humans. After going for a walk on the beach I brought a few of the creatures home to take some photos.
They were all over our beach as well ... but by the time I found them only the 'wing' was left... my photo of the horses on the beach you can see the beach dotted with the wing.. http://365project.org/julzmaioro/365/2017-10-20
@casablanca I agree - the wing almost looks like glass - thanks for commenting! @julzmaioro Thanks Julia - they are such funny looking things. I only saw them after they had dried out a wee bit, but it must have looked rather stunning when they were freshly in and looking so blue! @kali66 the day I saw them the wind was blowing some of them around like leaves! @deborah63 I'm sure they would be :-) @wag864 It is the first time I remember seeing them too @hermann Thanks Sally they are rather interesting! @jesperani The underside that hangs down is really blue @paul10 They are quite interesting and different. @jgpittenger That's interesting Jane - it is the first time I have seen them @robz Thanks Rob :-)
October 25th, 2017
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@julzmaioro Thanks Julia - they are such funny looking things. I only saw them after they had dried out a wee bit, but it must have looked rather stunning when they were freshly in and looking so blue!
@kali66 the day I saw them the wind was blowing some of them around like leaves!
@deborah63 I'm sure they would be :-)
@wag864 It is the first time I remember seeing them too
@hermann Thanks Sally they are rather interesting!
@jesperani The underside that hangs down is really blue
@paul10 They are quite interesting and different.
@jgpittenger That's interesting Jane - it is the first time I have seen them
@robz Thanks Rob :-)