Earlier this week Dorothy took Marilyn and I on a visit to a little complex she is restoring and managing. A living/work area soon to be available for rent with an island design that has separate living quarters, a sleeping area, and bath. Here she is telling us about her plans to establish a place to rent to artists, surfers, small groups who would like a more casual and traditional experience on Huahine.
The fare is sheltered by an banyan that was planted by an early queen of Huahine. Later, we sat on the dock in front of the property (the place where the launch from Te Tiare picks up visitors) and while we were chatting, three spotted eagle rays joined us.
So here is Raga | The Spotted Eagle Ray, the first of my short video pieces on this trip.
Lynda Barry named this series, INKY BINKY FILMS last year when she saw the hermit crab piece, Where Ever I Go. I liked that concept very much and the name has stuck. (Note: I consider the time lapse pieces and other experiments in a separate category; you can expect more of them as well.)
Finally, if you are somewhere out in the middle of the Pacific or with a slow internet connection, you need to wait until the film loads partially so it will play smoothly.
Beach Bum with a Camera 
So cool! loved this. I thought I was going to be seeing birds. Had no idea spotted rays were sea creatures. Guess I missed the spotted “sea” ray in the description.
I think the Spotted Eagle Ray must be a distant cousin of the Sharp Tailed Grouse… even though worlds apart…both stunning and expert in fancy dancing and showing off their white underparts!
I am so happy to be receiving these posts….like a breath of fresh air. Thank you!
xoxo
I like how they stain the water purple.
Ovoviviparous. There is a great word and a great concept. They have venomous stingers. One jumped into a boat and was very mean to a woman. They are near threatened in some parts of the world. You are lucky to see and record….is it one or two?They are very fast so be careful. This is all on Wikipedia site. I’m impressed. I would not pay much attention to the flirt.
They were serious flirts, Bunny and I saw three more when I was swimming yesterday!
Thank you, Andrea. With your urging I did a little more research and the fai-manu (spotted eagle ray) is can also be embodied by a spirit here ( i.e., “they provide members of their hapu with certain forms of protection, warning, help and advice”). I saw three more whilst swimming from our beach. Or maybe the same three!
Fab…Micronesians consider sting rays guardians of the islands. xox Butter
“Spotted Rays”, another good name for a film series literally! Thank you for lovely nature in movement.
Merci! Love those creatures…your blog’s the next best thing to being there.
What do you think they’re up to, flipping up their white underparts like that, above the waterline? What flirts! And what a nice pairing with that raga. Thanks, Beach Bum Bunny dear.
Beautiful, Sally!!!
________________________________
beautiful–a water dance !! What graceful creatures!! Thanks, love, sophia