Thursday 29th September 2016

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Guided Walk...


Today was the last of the scheduled guided walks, a strandline safari, the weather was vastly improved on the past two days when we've had near constant rain.

A group of seven turned up, (thanks to Veronica for some advertising) and we walked the beach between CE53 and CE52 so that we had the wind at our backs.

Although the sand had covered most of the strandline there was still enough to explore, having a couple of people who hadn't been on one of the previous walks mean't that I could really get into showing and explaining what we discovered.

I never seem to be able to co-ordinate talking and taking photographs so you'll have to believe me when I say we found, Tellin spp, Banded Wdge Shell, Otter Shell, Thong Weed, Prickly |cockle Edible Cockle  host of Sand Hoppers and an incredible looking Sea Slater,

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Common Sea Slater (photo from Wikipedia)

There were lots of groups of Goose Barnacles, and if anyone can answer the question "what are they doing" please leave a comment< sensible ones only!. UPDATE

 Dosima fascicularis, the buoy barnacle, is "the most specialised pleustonic goose barnacle" species.[ It hangs downwards from the water surface, held up by a float of its own construction, and is carried along by sea currents  (thanks to Veronica and Wikipedia)






We walked back through the foredunes then into F1 and looked at the pond where Common Darter and Common/Moorland Hawker were playing on the wind, this pond has been great this summer for dragonflies.

We also discovered a new site for Common Broomrape, and found Haresfoot Clover.

We will hold a couple of events through the late autumn and winter so look out for information.....

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