Can't believe I'm the first one on this morning. Everybody must be watching Bruce Springsteen on the Today Show .

Morning Carol,
No, no, everything fine here, but a provider problem from yesterday evening. Seems it is fixed up now. I think a great storm is around the corner. It has been too hot theses past two days and it turned stormy. They said on the national meteo TV news we have to be very cautious cause they might be very strong and violent. Have a nice day.

Good morning both,

Here in the UK the weather is much the same as yours Martine. I can normally see for miles from my office window, but it is very hazy and no sunshine, but still very hot and humid, but bad weather has been forecast for later today.

Hi Martine,
The weather seems to be very strange this year. You do not often get thunderstorms from the heat do you? It is part of our summer weather so we are used to it.....but you are right, they can be very strong. By the way, how is your back?

Carol

Morning Sue,
Hopefully your storm will clear the air and not cause any damage.

Carol

Hi Carol and Sue,
To answer both questions my back is quite fine now, thanks, I just have to be very carefull with my movements. Storms are quite frequent here when it turns too hot, but unfortunately they do not wash the sky to turn it clear again. They may last for a rainy week...and it seems that's happening now. The positive point is it is cooler and the wind blows the ozone pollution.

Morning Everyone! Here is a different view!

divers!

Sorry for the double…

I’m no expert, but isn’t the regulator supposed to be in your mouth?

Now that would be too easy snork.

Good morning everyone! See I got scooped on the divers...having to view archives only...too busy...here's a couple from the very quiet street cam. Haven't seen Annie or Maggie in a couple of days!

Nice parrot fish!

Oops, another double...Carol, you are fast!

I just heard on the news that 15 dolphins were stranded on the eastern shore (Virginia)this morning.......then they said that of the 55 pilot whales pushed back to sea from Cape Cod yesterday, 40 more have come ashore somewhere else in Massachusetts...........

Carol

Carol, I can't get that news here, could you please keep us updated, maybe we'll hear something soon..thanks, Sarah

I wonder what's going on on the East coast? Were they able to get the dolphins back in the water, or is it too soon to tell?

Fish...

A bundle of fish..

Looks like all the dolphins are dead-I think they came ashore in an isolated spot......will try and find some more news.

Carol

Hmm, think I'll just watch today..you are all so good! Renee, something up on the west coast too...tons (literally of squid) washing up on the shores.

Thanks Carol..

Sarah,
Can you go to CNN.com? They have the complete stories about the whales.
From yesterday:
DENNIS, Massachusetts (CNN) -- Rescuers successfully pushed 46 of 55 stranded pilot whales back into the water of Cape Cod Bay on Monday. The remaining nine whales died on the hot beach, they said.

From today:
WELLFLEET, Massachusetts (CNN) -- Forty pilot whales rescued Monday were stranded again Tuesday on mud flats at Lieutenant's Island near here.

...will try to find out about the dolphins.

....now there are 3 huge whales(don't know what kind) in Sydney, Australia Harbor
.......makes you wonder doesn't it?

Yes, I can get CNN, thanks again Carol, much appreciated.

Very odd, it’s similar to the big squid die off on the left coast.

Here is the story - they are pilot whales - most were saved yesterday but some came ashore again.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002-07-30-whales_x.htm

.


Blowing their brains out might have something to do with it.

http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/marine/nlfa.asp

Bill

.

I wonder if the Navy was testing their speakers?? Of course they'll deny any connection if they were.

This really makes me mad!

Of course one of the largest Naval bases is in Virginia Beach...

Sarah, I don’t think mad begins to describe how I feel about it. Nothing infuriates me more than the government exempting themselves from the laws that we all must follow, but when they are screwing up the marine life AHHH! I’m lost for words…

Please Send letters to: The Hon. Gordon R. England, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC 20350-1000. Fax (703) 614-3477 and register your feelings

(sorry if I’m off topic Jake)

Scott, I wouldn't want to post my exact feelings here.. but as a Biologist to be, I can assure you it's more than 'mad'! I am doing up a fax now.

I'm composing a letter right now! I'm writing my congressmen as well. I get so fired up about these kinds of things. Even if the current beachings aren't related, this is going to be a serious issue!!!

(I'm sorry too, Jake for going off topic)

At least this little guy is safe for the moment...

I don't think this is off topic for people who love the sea. Imagine if you were scuba diving and within range of one of these sonars - You might develop a headache!!

Although another thread might be more appropriate if this turns into a full blown -dare I say - crusade.

Bill

I agree, Bill..this website is a great place to get the info out - thanks for all the info, folks! The fax will be busy today!

Bad news, everyone, they've given up on the whales.

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20020730/D7L3D09G0.html

Renee,
I was afraid of that...the efforts to push them back out never seem to be very successful. Once they come in, it's hard to get them to stay back out if there is a group........there is so much we still don't know about their behavior.

Carol

OK, time for something more lighthearted (in the beached animal department)

Boca Raton, Florida-AP -- She really wasn't in the mood.
A female manatee beached herself in Florida today -- in an effort to avoid the advances of five males.
But they didn't give up easily. The five followed her onto the sand.
A Boca Raton biologist says the sea cows appeared healthy and weren't in any danger.
Another expert says female manatees sometimes beach themselves in shallow areas during mating season to get away from the males.
Some of the male manatees had already made their way out to the ocean as the tide rolled out.

And here's a visit from Charlotte and Slim to cheer us up...

Those that want to continue the discussion on the Navy Sonar goto Click Here. I found some more info that may change some minds. It's in the Chat area so no interference.

Hi everyone,
I couldn't read all the reports regarding the pilots whales stranded in cape Cod. I can tell you that last year on our atlantic coast, hundreds of dolphins did the same. It often happens here too and nobody can explain. It also seemed hopeless to try to resend the few survival back in deep water,cause they returned on the shore to die. I feel very sad about what is happening in Mas, there must be a reason. I think you have to post here in this discussion all the reports you may find regarding this phenomenom, and we have to react if it is non natural. Sorry, sometimes it is hard to express in a foreign language what I really mean.

Martine, your English is probably better than mine. Anyway the answer on the Navy Sonar seems to be mixed. Here's some references, Navy Answer, Snopes Site, and A good balanced site. I'm still mad about the false blanket statements on the enviromental site, like 255 dB sound when the proposed transmitter only puts out 200 dB at the source.

Martine,

You express yourself very well and I believe we all understand what you are saying. Your English is substantially better than my French, which I hope to improve on someday.

P.S. I love Jean Paul and your website; the pictures from Reunion Island are great. My wife and I hope to go to the Seychelles late next year (long trip from the US). This would be the first time we’ve been to the Indian Ocean.

Carol,

The manatees made it off the beach just fine here in Boca. Nature can be incredible. At times, beached mammals are tied to algal and zooplankton blooms. Hopefully, this isn't the case with these manatees. The sea water is incredibly warm (85+).

Last week we had packs of bull sharks (+100's Jupiter, FL) off Palm Beach Co. Last year the were in the Gulf of Mexico, this year here. From the helicopter view over the coastline they looked like pepper in the water. Interestingly, many sharks were swimming between the swimmers and coastline.

I'll let you know if the manatees return.

Bud
Boca Raton