Best rockpool finds and tropical beans

ChrisJB · #1 (**permalink**) 24-08-2011, 07:56 PM

Question 1: Has anyone found anything really good whilst rockpooling (like a big spider crab or lobster or even better)? I ask as I've done a fair bit of it this summer in Pembrokeshire and Northumberland and had a right good time (my daughter couldn't get near her net and bucket).

Question 2: Has anyone ever found a 'sea bean' or other tropical nut/seed washed up on a British beach? I remember Alan Titchmarsh going on about them when he was on the Scillies on his 'British Isles' series a few years back and was quite taken with the idea of finding one for myself.

Regards, Chris

pammosley · #2 (**permalink**) 24-08-2011, 08:27 PM

Hi Chris, we were rockpooling around Newgale & Marloes (Pembrokeshire) a few weeks ago. We bought 3 nets so we all could have a go

We had Blennys, a Father Lasher, Shrimps, Prawns & a couple of new things to us, a Chiton, Sea Slug & an Isopod (I had to put a couple up for ID)
It`s great to be a big kid again & spend hours just mooching in pools isn`t it

Hope your kids had as much fun as you

ChrisJB · #3 (**permalink**) 24-08-2011, 08:43 PM

Cool. We were at Marloes too (I finally made it back after 18 years and it was as delighful as I remembered). I didn't have the variety you did (how are chitons best looked for?), but was happy with catching plenty of small flounders in the sandier pools.

Chris

p.s, what's a father lasher? It sounds a bit naughty!

Ukwildlifeo · #4 (**permalink**) 24-08-2011, 09:11 PM

Ive had a few goes in the last couple of years. 2 years ago when I went to Pembroke I rockpooled around broad and little haven. I found sand eels, shannys and sea hares (big brown sea slugs) along with shore crabs and prawns and sand shrimps. I tried marloes sands and found nothing but a shanny.

This year was a bit of a let down with a few shannys, another fish species (shich Ill post for ID at some point) and prawns. I photographed the shanny in my aquarium set up.

Ive also tried Joss bay in Kent but all I found was a few juvenile shore crabs and some 'freshwater shrimp type' amphipods.

Dorts · #5 (**permalink**) 25-08-2011, 10:07 AM

With over 60 years of 'rock-pooling', my list is quite long, but what gives me great pleasure is finding a Sea Mouse - Aphrodita aculeata.
I first found one at Pett Levels, Sussex as a 7 year-old, and I'm still finding them; two this year here in N. Wales with the grandchildren.
Great little creatures; they are covered in hairs, (setae), which are made of millions of minute photonic crystals that interact with the light, similarly to that found in opals, and give an amazing display of colours; fascinating for children and adults alike!
Dorts.

pammosley · #6 (**permalink**) 25-08-2011, 03:50 PM

Dorts, those Sea Mice sound wonderful.

Chris, the Chiton my husband & daughter found was on a razor shell in a pool. Daddy Lasher is a fish.
Thinking about it, all our finds were at Newgale beach.
Prawns

Chiton

Blenny

5 Barbed Rockling

Father Lasher....I think!

Rock Goby.....I think!

Hope we`ve I`ded the fish correctly