As Sydneysiders flock to the coast for what is set to be the warmest day since March, an armada of bluebottles has washed up on the states’ beaches from The Entrance to Thirroul, sailing in on warm north-easterly winds.
Kevin Crick, president of the Woonona Surf Lifesaving Club on the south coast, said he’s used to seeing bluebottles “appearing out of nowhere”, but that the timing of this week’s arrival is odd.
Bluebottles washed up on Sydney’s Tamarama beach. Credit: Edwina Pickles
“Usually, we don’t cop ’em this early,” said Crick, “they’re prolific, they’ll always turn up, it’s just unusual for that many to be here so early.”
Mass arrivals, or “blooms”, of bluebottles – a type of stinging man o’ war – happen when favourable weather and reproductive conditions converge each summer, with the last major event in 2021. After a pattern of south-easterly winds earlier in the week, a midday change on Saturday brought about north-easterlies, which are favourable for bluebottles reaching Sydney’s beaches.
Bluebottles have been spotted at a number of beaches along Sydney’s coastline, with ocean pools Wylie’s Baths and McIver’s Ladies Baths issuing warnings for swimmers.
The bloom comes as Sydney is set to see a high of 32 degrees on Sunday, with a “very-high” UV index of nine. Jake Phillips, a meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology said that the forecast showed a “fairly warm week overall” with the temperatures falling slightly before scraping 30 again on Wednesday and Thursday.
“The long term average [for this time of year] is 23.7 degrees. If we reach our forecast maximum we are getting well above average, but not record-breaking territory.”
