A film shoot was carried out at Eagle Rock Marine Sanctuary last month.
The film production was organised by Parks Victoria, and funded by GORC, for the Friends of Eagle Rock Sanctuary. It is intended to highlight the marine diversity of the flora and fauna of the waters around the Sanctuary. Sting Rays, Leatherjackets, Weed Fish and Sweep were filmed, as well as abundant kelps and sponges. The film will eventually be put onto the GORC Website.
Staff at Ecologic have reported that conditions for snorkelling around Anglesea and Point Roadknight, lately, have been excellent, enabling close-up encounters with many different marine creatures, including Blue Devilfish, and Banjo Sharks.
The Southern Blue Devilfish Paraplesiops meleagris is bright, fluorescent blue, with lighter blue spots. It grows to a maximum size of approximately 40 cm. Devilfish are often found on rocky reefs, hiding in caves and overhangs, and are very territorial. Interestingly, they are curious, and will often come out of their cave and investigate approaching divers. (Web editor’s note: see picture at http://australianmuseum.net.au/image/Head-of-a-Southern-Blue-Devil-at-the-Blowhole).
The water quality of Anglesea River is once again showing signs of good health, and very large numbers of baby fish can now be found in the river. Species include Flounder, Bream and Hardyheads.
Peter Crowcroft had an interesting find at Grinders, just below Demon’s Bluff. It is an intact half of a spinal cord of a Dolphin. It measures about 1.5 m.
Over recent weeks we have seen the usual autumn movements of some birds. Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos, in groups, some as big as fifteen, have dispersed from the higher range areas to the coast. Flocks of Red Wattlebirds can be seen, a common sight in autumn, when they tend to move towards the coast for food.
There have been a few sightings of Wedge-tailed Eagles in the past month. On one occasion, three birds were flying above Ironbark Basin, where there was an old, established nesting site, used for many years. I am not sure if it is there now.
Black-fronted Dotterels were observed at Coogoorah Park.
Mike and Kaye Traynor