Combesgate

This Summer.....Bioblitz time !

Later this year Coastwise will be staging a Bioblitz as part of the AONB's Coastal Creatures project - 17th September at Croyde.

Although we have experience of running a very successful major event in 2012, it's always good to limber up again, so congratulations to North Cornwall National Trust, particularly, organiser Sarah Stevens, for a very enjoyable bioblitz at Lundy Bay, Polzeath on 2/3 July. 

Three Coastwisers attended, their campers joining 30 others staying in Lundy Bay’s base-camp field.   The 24hour programme was packed with plenty of botany, bug-hunting and the like but our interest was mainly marine.

 Lundy Bay is a beautiful spot and the variety of the programme and the dedication of the many enthusiasts taking part amply compensated for its relatively sparse marine fauna.

The highlights:

- abundant algae,

- small nudibranchs, displayed on the camera/scope by MBA’s Jack Sewell for identification,

- groups of 30-40 large Celtic Sea Slugs, 

- Jan Whittington’s  midnight ramble Sea Hare, and

- a shy Lobster.

CWT’s Matt Slater’s fish trap also provided interest and the cetacean watchers had success  during Saturday’s windy weather, 2 Sunfish, porpoise, and several good birds. Sunday, a quiet sunny day, was less successful.

The marquee displays included Roseland VMCA members’ algae, the Conchology Society’s quiz, and the National Lobster Hatchery’s baby lobsters.   Sue Sayer’s Seal Talk was excellent and Victorian Mobile Catering provided welcome hot food and drinks through day and into the night.  Those are just the activities we had time to sample, there was plenty more on offer.

Great partnership working from the NT, CWT & Polzeath Marine Group amongst others yielded a lovely event.

There's plenty to think about as Coastwise prepares for the Croyde Bioblitz on 17th September, 10am – 6pm.

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