David Muirhead has been writing a regular column titled “Pretty Fishes of Yankalilla Bay” for the monthly issues of Yankalilla Regional News since October 2021. He has now become known as the “Fish Whisperer”.

David’s column is very interesting and beautifully illustrated with many of his underwater photos. There is a often bit of a focus on fish cleaners and cleaning stations in the columns.

We have managed to keep 15 columns on file so far, with just the Nov 2021 column missing it seems. This suggests that David has written about 16 different fish species to date. We can only wonder whether he can keep coming up with photos and information about more fish species in the distant future.

Species covered to date are:

Rainbow Cale – Oct 2021

? (Nov 2021)

Orangelined Bullseye – Dec 2021/Jan 2022

Western Cleaner Clingfish – Jan/Feb 2022

Southern Blue Devil – Mar 2022

Horseshoe Leatherjacket – Apr 2022

Western Talma – May 2022

Common/Weedy Seadragon – June 2022

Senator Wrasse – July 2022

Moonlighter – Aug 2022

Southern Longfin Goby – Sept 2022

Scarlet Cardinalfish – Oct 2022

Harlequin Fish – Nov 2022

Old Wife – Dec 2022/Jan 2023

Scalyfin – Jan/Feb 2023

Magpie Perch – Mar 2023

Spinytail Leatherjacket – April 2023

Banded Seaperch – May 2023

Many thanks go to David for the work that he has done promoting our wonderful fish life through his column and photos. Keep up the good work, David.

(Header photo shows a Southern Blue Devil being attended to by a Western Cleaner Clingfish – Photographer unknown)

By Steve Reynolds

Steve Reynolds is the current President of MLSSA and is a long-standing member of the Society. Steve is a keen diver, underwater explorer, photographer and is chief author of the Society's extensive back catalogue of newsletters and journals.

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