Fun in Falmouth finding fish...................

Twenty members of Coastwise North Devon visited the Falmouth area for two seashore safaris on the 26th -27th April 2014 under the skilled guidance of Trudy Russell, a marine advisor with Natural England, and Jason Birt, Trudy's husband who is also involved with marine science.
 
On the 25th, eleven members went out on a rigid inflatable boat from the maritime museum quay in Falmouth for a two hour ride along the coast and out to the Manacles off of the Lizard. The weather was perfect and the sea very calm. Unfortunately the wildlife was absent though a couple of barrel jellyfish ( Rhizostoma pulmo) were spotted. A visit to the maritime museum followed which everyone thoroughly enjoyed.
 
On Saturday the 26th the weather didn't bode well but we all met up at The Ferryboat inn on Helford Passage slipway at 9am, low water being 10:10am and 0.7m below datum.

After a heavy shower at the beginning of the safari we were able to appreciate the type of habitat which is a sheltered rocky shore and mud flat. A lot of species were seen ( species list to be added) but there were many highlights including Grey Sea Slugs (Aeolidia papillosa) and their eggs, assorted worms, Peacock ( Sabella pavonina) and Sandmason ( Lanice conchilega), all feeding, and lots of Cushion Stars (Asterina gibbosa). A Butterfish (Pholis gunnellus) was spotted, and there were also some very unusual seaweeds.

After three hours, and feeling quite cold, we all headed for The Ferryboat inn and a very welcome meal. At the pub,Trudy and Jason set up an ID table and, helped by Sarah Hotchkiss, quickly sorted out the seaweeds and various worms to be identified and added to the species list.
 
Sunday 27th was a bit brighter and we all met up near Mawnan Church at 9am to walk the 3/4 mile to Prisk Cove which has a rocky shore habitat with low water at 11am and 0.6.m. The walk to Prisk was over a couple of steep fields with spectacular views out over Falmouth bay, followed by a small climb to the beach.

Trudy explained that at low water there were a lot of species to be found under the boulders at the low water mark.This beach is highly regarded by Marine ecologists as being one of the best rockpooling sites in the country and we weren't disappointed.

A wonderful few hours followed with finds including the the Cornish (or Shore) Clingfish (Lepadogaster lepadogaster), Green Shore Urchins (Psammechinus miliaris), a very unusual Red-speckled Sea Anemone (Anthopleura ballii), and some beautiful nudibranchs (see Orange- clubbed Sea Slug pic below).
We all had a stiff uphill walk back to our cars, whence we adjourned to the Red Lion pub at Mawnan Smith for a farewell.

Overall, a very successful few days, and were particularly lucky to have two experts in Trudy and Jason who were so accommodating and helpful with us all.