Macro Monday - Feeling a Little Bit Crabby.

Today, I am feeling a little bit crabby. It might have something to do with the fact that I was up at 4:30am to go birding (why, oh why do birds have to get up sooooo early!?!). It might also have something to do with the fact that I am now up to box number 93. Or perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I was up at 1am worrying about what faucets I should be installing in my new kitchen, whether it is really worth spending $25 per square foot for a glass tile backsplash and if I should get slate flooring in the mud room. Since I couldn't get to sleep and to stop me from obsessing about fireplaces and window treatments, I ended up reading my book - "Insomnia" by Stephen King. Thanks Cortes!

So, to go with my mood, here is a little crab - the sally lightfoot crab, Grapsus grapsus.

These crabs dance around the rocks on their tiptoes, easy to see, but difficult to catch. As you walk across the black, desolate rocks, you will find a wave of brilliant orange and flashing red fanning out before you as these crabs skitter and scurry away from you, always one step ahead. No matter how fast you are or how stealthily you stalk these cunnig and conniving crabs, the end result is nearly always the same - a gorgeous photograph of a rock where once a crab crouched. Obviously, I did manage to sneak up on a couple of rather sluggish and lethargic specimens and snap a couple of somewhat decent macro shots.

It is rumoured that these crabs are named after a nineteenth century night club dancer, who captivated, teased and tantalised her audience with a swirling red and yellow dress. Hmmm, I am not entirely sure that I would want a crab named after me. 

PS This is a little bit of a cheaty post, since these colourful crustaceans have appeared in a previous post. Oh well, I did mention that I was feeling a little bit crabby, didn't I?


For more Macro Monday, go here.
For more face of the Week, go here.