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Christy's avatar

Wild!

Those pictures are great—all of them. How fun and interesting. I don’t think we have anything like that here on the Gulf.

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The Lightshare Letters's avatar

Thanks, Christy! I love that you find them interesting, too! Maybe you’re too enclosed there? Or the Velella just aren’t in that part of the world? But you’d think that the winds could carry them everywhere…Ah, but when you’re at the mercy of the winds and waves you end up where they take you!

Your comments always bring a smile. Thanks, my friend.

I wonder what sealife the Gulf has that the Pacific Coast doesn’t?

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Carolyn's avatar

Lovely story and photos. I just saw some on the beach in Carlsbad on my way to San Diego a couple of weeks ago, and am glad to learn more about them.

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The Lightshare Letters's avatar

Thank you, my friend! I wonder what your first thoughts were about the Velella? I remember when I first saw them, 1) I thought they were jellies and 2) I thought they were beautiful. There’s just something about that blue in their coloring…I read somewhere as I was preparing the post that their coloring, since they live atop the seas, is perfectly suited to camouflage them. Interestingly, I didn’t read about any birds that prey on them. I wonder why…They’re right there for the getting…Maybe they taste like broccoli…

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Carolyn's avatar

Yes, I made the assumption they were jellies and judiciously avoided them. They must taste like broccoli or the birds would be feasting:)

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The Lightshare Letters's avatar

Little known fact: birds hate broccoli. :)

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Jacqueline Lawton's avatar

They are slippery! I slipped on a few and was curious if there was a sting associated with contact. I’ve only ever stepped on very dried ones before. But those ones from that evening were fresh!

I like the life lesson to never turn down a beach walk. You never know what you might discover…

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