The early autumn surf has delivered a bloom of Round glass-like disks glinting in the late afternoon sun along the shoreline. With an interesting spotted radial pattern and faint four leaf clover in the middle, the Aurelia aurita -- or moon jellyfish -- is a common sight on Long Beach Island, New Jersey. Floating along with the currents and tides to feed on plankton, the jellies have limited control of their own movement, propelling themselves only in one direction by manipulating their body shape, and frequently getting washed ashore in groups. Poor jelly.

10.01.20