Hogfish

Until this morning, I had only seen photos of this fish, but I recognized it from many years of pouring through my Reef Fish Identification book.  And the amazing thing was that this fish was completely calm, and didn't flee when I approached.

Today, I am sharing my photos of a hogfish.  It is a member of the wrasse family.  This fish was about 12 inches long.  It's coloration is mottled.  The species grows longer than 2 feet, and the black bar on the tail is not fully developed, so this fish is not an adult.  The photos were taken at a depth of about 35 feet.

Brain coral as habitat

Brain coral is a type of stony coral that is fairly common on Bonaire's reefs.  It's name comes from the similarity of its structure to the surface of a brain.

Brain coral

Several little fish species reside in or on brain coral.  These photos feature blennies, possibly secretary blennies.  They live in small holes in the brain coral.  They dart out to feed.  Their eyes move independently of each other, so they can search a wide area easily for prey, as well as predators.  These fish were about an inch long, and the photos were taken in about 15 feet of water.

Note the eyes looking in different directions.

First photos of our underwater season in Bonaire.

We have been diving for 2 days. Yesterday, I dove with an empty underwater-camera-housing.  Today, I dove with a camera in the housing.  And among other things, we encountered a lovely green turtle.  It was about 16 or 18 inches long, and didn't have any fin tags.

Such a sweet face!

This turtle was about 25 feet deep.

Stay tuned. I'm planning to post lots more.

Ho ho ho holidays!

I'm sending out a 3-frog tribute to the holiday.

And for those who need to know, here is what we've been eating.

For Christmas Eve: Stuffed squid in a tomato sauce on spinach fettucine

Today: Halibut with parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme stuffing; with wild mushroom gravy.

Still wishing for peace on earth.

Ah rain!

OK, we get it.  Most of 2015 was very dry here in Oregon, but the month of December is making up for it, big time.

This morning, the Pacific looked the color of cappucino.

During sun breaks in the series of storms that have hit us in the last week or so, I've been out walking on the beach looking for beach erosion.

While I have found some beach erosion, it isn't where I expected it.  And driftwood was everywhere, including still coming down the river, and out the mouth of the bay.

Beach erosion along the north edge of the bay.

I don't think that I would sleep well in this house during a storm.

Here's a pile of driftwood at the mouth of the bay.

A bald eagle perched on a log in the center.

Not everything was dismal.

Harbor seal

Great blue heron

Trust me, if I could, I would re-route some of this rain to needy parts of California.

Thanksgiving Day

The secret ingredient in my Thanksgiving gravy: king bolete mushrooms.

The end of the meal: a pear-fig galette.

The end of the day: a sunset over the Pacific.

Food and familly

Our fall has been busy with both food and travel to see family.  Within the last 2 weeks, we have driven south to California and north to Washington.

In Napa, we visited a couple of wineries and my parents.

Domaine Chandon

After we returned to Oregon, the rains began, and the first king bolete mushrooms of the season popped up.  I came home with 4.5 pounds one day last week.

This weekend, we drove up to Washington to visit Fran and Sadie.

Goldilocks, the birthday girl

After our drive home, I went for a neighborhood walk, and came home with three more king bolete mushrooms.