......down on the shore, according to Frances Dipper, a national authority on intertidal fish.
Frances, author of several guides to inshore fish species, showed Coastwise members what to look for in identifying and understanding the ecology of blennies, shannies, bullheads, wrasse and many other fascinating inhabitants of our tidal rockpools.She outlined for Coastwise members the best locations and types of fish to expect.
......with a Coastwise trip to Looe.
Member Jay Nicholson has orgainised a weekend trip to Looe, which has a fantastic rocky shore, for members on 2nd and 3rd April 2022, so put the dates in your diary.
He has arranged for Heathre Buttivant, expert local and author of "Rockpool" to be our guide, so it will be a realy fun and informative outing.
Further details on accommodation options and timing etc will follow.
..........as Conchological Society member Bas Payne explained to Coastwise North Devon members.
The are over 2000 known species, of which over 800 are found in the UK.
The only equipment necessary is a good identification book, and a willingness to walk along the strandline, or search in sand and pebbles.
Adding records to the national database is important, as shell records are very scarce ( 3rd from top R) compared with, for example, butterflies or birds.
.....but Clive Mitchell of the British Geological Survey has a good idea what most of them are.
He spoke to Coastwise members about how to go about collecting and identifying pebbles, base on his book "The Pebble Spotter's Guide", published in conjunction with the National Trust.
As a professional geologist, his normal work is globally-based, but he retains a boyhood interest in what can be found on beaches.
.......................................is the main way that the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) collects extensive data on the marine mammals' movements.
HWDT's Education Officer Pippa Garrard gave Coastwise members an interesting account of the Trust's work, which focusses on research, education and community engagement.
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