Hundreds of unidentified floating objects have washed up
on Dee Why Beach, causing locals to ask whether the green, furry
balls are alien eggs, Japanese moss balls or some kind of tennis
nightmare.
Dee Why Surf Life Saving Club patrol member Rae-Maree Hutton
said she came across the unusual site on her morning walk.
“I didn’t want to touch one because you never know what can
sting you on the beach, but I did poke it with my toes and it’s
squishy, like a sponge,” Ms Hutton.
“They look like alien eggs or something.”
Narraweena resident Jenny Zhang said she walked the beach every
day and had never seen anything like it.
“About three days ago, there were a few egg-shaped balls but
then today, they were much bigger and everywhere on the beach,” Ms
Zhang said.
“I tried to search on the internet but there was no
information.
“They look like Japanese moss balls but they’re not made of
moss, maybe seaweed.”
The green visitors follow hot on the heels of small
bioluminescent marine animals that turned Manly and Newport beaches
blue at the end of August.
For Allambie Heights resident Roxie Rogan, the balls prompted a
bit of beach sport.
“People were kicking them like soccer balls,” Ms Rogan said.
“There were a lot of people looking at them.”
University of NSW School of Biological, Earth and Environmental
Sciences associate professor Alistair Poore said the balls were
most likely living green algae.
“They’re pretty interesting,” Mr Poore said.
