WOW- Went to a "Grunion Run" ..... Grunion are small fish (about 6 inches) that actually catch a Pacific Ocean wave, and wiggle UP ON TO THE SAND as far as they can, to REPRODUCE! This happens on a strict biological clock: it only happens during a few spring months, only for a few nights AFTER a full or new moon, and only during a specific few hours! You can see a lot (HUNDREDS)of the shiny critters in one photo. Note in that photo, at the bottom right, you can see a female starting to bury itself tail first into the sand to lay its eggs.
In this close up shot, you see the female grunion half buried, with the males around her lying on the sand - after the wave and water has LEFT the area! Male wiggles around female and deposits sperm to 'complete the deed.'
We have all heard of 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush....' BUT what is a FISH IN THE HAND WORTH?? Well, after it seemed one particularly LARGE female had apparently done its egg laying and popped out of her hole to catch the next wave back into the ocean, Bill decided to pick her up for a closer inspection. As is evidenced in the photo- he got 'egged' ! It is all over his hand. Ewwww.
