Extreme beach combing

[Marineboy]

I hope the photo comes out - it is a small selection of micro seashells to be found if you happen to take a closer look at the tide line. Included is a 1 pence coin for scale.
I often get some strange looks beachcombing with a magnifying glass, but hey, it's worth it!

[pammosley]

Amazing Marineboy, I must look closer when Rockpooling Great photo too
That looks a brilliant beech for shells, where were you?

[Farplace]

Great Photo. thats amazing. Which beach was it?

[Marineboy]

This selection is from only a few feet of tideline on Sennen Beach in Cornwall - one of my favourite UK sandy beaches. It's a pity it gets so busy in the summer, especially when you take time to see what is being trodden on!

Included are cowrys, echinoids, scallops, blue rayed limpet, and amongst all the gastropods is a lovely painted top shell.

[Marineboy]

By the way, the photo was shot with a simple 5.1MP Fuji A500 compact camera, set on macro - with a single small prime lens simply held against the camera lens. It works for me.

[ChrisJB]

That is utter fab! I know how hard it is when scouring for tiny cowries and blue-rayed limpets, so I'm very impressed. Are you ever tempted to grab a bagful of tiny stuff to sift through in the comfort of your home, with your feet up and the wireless on say?

Chris

[htcdude]

Wow what a nice collection there, I'll have to keep an eye out next time I'm at the shore!

Thanks for sharing

Nige

[Deb London]

That's amazingly beautiful!

[Marineboy]

I am pleased I have maybe added another dimension to beachcombing. Silly thing is though, concentrating at this level you can miss all the big stuff!

Slow down, get down and really see what's there. This reminds me also of one of the best dives I have ever had. I have dived in the Med, the Caribbean and the outer Great Barrier reef - but this was Oban, in Scotland, with a marine biologist from Plymouth Uni. We only covered an area the size of a living room, for about two hours in only two or three metres of water just looking under stones in a big rock pool, and it was absolutely fantastic. Ok, not a dive for everyone. I've done the 30+ metre dives, the wrecks, the drift and night dives, but this just beat them all. As I said, slow down, get down and see what's there. Be sure to take a magnifying glass to the beach next time!

To answer ChrisJB - I admit I do have a cup full of tideline from Sennen beach that, just occassionally, I stick under the angle-poise in the living room and explore with a magnifying glass and a cup of coffee.

[ospreywildbird]

Hey wonderful tosee cowyries, spend many hrs looking for them on 'any' sandy beach. DS3 found 12 on Fri pm on a se Scot beach!! We also came across a few 'keys of the castle' which seem to be more + more unusual to find!!
Lovely pic!!