Aerial images around Caloundra, plus Trichodesmium sp. – the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

These aerial (drone) scenes include Kings Beach, Wickham Headland, Shelly Beach, Moffat Headland, Pumicestone Passage, Bribie Island, the Glasshouse Mountains (in the background), and Caloundra – on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland.

Kings Beach 2AM 0424-0425 panorama stitch ©Andrew McInnes. All Rights Reserved.

The sea-sawdust slicks on the water surface in the following images is likely Trichodesmium sp. – a cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), and is also called whale food, sea scum and, incorrectly, whale sperm. Found in nutrient-poor tropical and subtropical ocean waters, Trichodesmium are ‘nitrogen fixers’- they can take nitrogen gas from the air and ‘fix’ it in a form that can be transferred through the food chain. This function is very important as Nitrogen is essential to life and while there is an abundance of it in the air (air is 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen), most plants and animals can’t make use of it in that form.

Wickham Point 2AM 0434-0437 panorama stitch ©Andrew McInnes. All Rights Reserved.

Trichodesmium 2AM-000408

Trichodesmium 2AM-000408 ©Andrew McInnes. All Rights Reserved.

Trichodesmium 2AM-000419

Trichodesmium 2AM-000419 ©Andrew McInnes. All Rights Reserved.

Trichodesmium 2AM-000422

Trichodesmium 2AM-000422 ©Andrew McInnes. All Rights Reserved.

Cheers 🙂

Early-summer thunderstorms, Caloundra.

We have experienced a few dramatic early-summer thunderstorms at our new home over the last few weeks. These scenes are from Kings Beach and Happy Valley, at Caloundra – on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland. Some show storms building, others in mid-action, and others of the retreat.

kings-beach-2am-3781-3786_stitch_edit

Kings Beach 2AM 3781-3786 stitch

caloundra-2am-003731_edit

Caloundra 2AM-003731

caloundra-2am-003541

Caloundra 2AM-003541

caloundra-2am-003548

Caloundra 2AM-003548

caloundra-2am-3700

Caloundra 2AM-003700

caloundra-2am-3701

Caloundra 2AM-003701

caloundra-2am-003712

Caloundra 2AM-003712

kings-beach-2am-003643

Kings Beach 2AM-003643

kings-beach-2am-003646

Kings Beach 2AM-003646

kings-beach-2am-003647_edit

Kings Beach 2AM-003647

 

Cabarita Beach and Surrounds – NSW.

Aerial and terrestrial images of Cabarita Beach, Norries Head, Hastings Point, and Cudgera Creek – on the Tweed Coast of NSW.

Cabarita Beach 2AM-000274

fish-2am-007879

Fish 2AM-007879

 

Hastings Point, NSW – where Cudgera Creek enters the sea after it’s sinuous meander.

Hastings Point 2AM-000277

Hastings Point 2AM-000278

Hastings Point 2AM-000281

Hastings Point 2AM-000289

Hastings Point 2AM-000292

humpback-sunrise-2am-007774

Humpback Sunrise 2AM-007774

maggies-beach-2am-3413-3414-pano_edit_cloned

Maggies Beach 2AM 3413-3414 Panorama

Norries Head 2AM-000265

Norries Head 2AM 262-263 Panorama

Norries Head 2AM-000266

Norries Head 2AM-000270

Norries Head 2AM-000271

norries-head-2am-007865

Norries Head 2AM-007865

norries-head-2am-007869

Norries Head 2AM-007869

 

The Blue Mountains, NSW.

Rain caresses the skirts of Grose Valley in the Blue Mountains – near Blackheath, NSW, plus a portion of the floral diversity at the beautiful Campbell Rhododendron Gardens in Blackheath, NSW.

blue-mountains-2am-006879

Blue Mountains 2AM-006879

blue-mountains-2am-006899

Blue Mountains 2AM-006899

blue-mountains-2am-6914-6915-panorama_edit

Blue Mountains 2AM 6914-6915 Panorama

blue-mountains-2am-6929-6935-panorama_edit

Blue Mountains 2AM 6929-6935 Panorama

blue-mountains-2am-006938

Blue Mountains 2AM-006938

blue-mountains-2am-006942

Blue Mountains 2AM-006942

campbell-rhododendron-gardens-2am-6831-6832-panorama_edit

Campbell Rhododendron Gardens 2AM 6831-6832 Panorama

campbell-rhododendron-gardens-2am-6845-6847-panorama_edit

Campbell Rhododendron Gardens 2AM 6845-6847 Panorama