Group Shoresearches were carried out at Llanfairfechan (Traeth Lafan SSSI), Cricieth (Glanllynnau a Glannau Pen-y-Chain I Gricieth SSSI) and at the end of the month at Porth Ysgo on the tip of Penllyn (Wig Bach a'r Glannau i Borth Alwm SSSI) and we carried out an exciting and re-organised have-a-go session at Trearddur bay mid-month (Anglesey terns/Morwenoliaid Ynys Môn SPA and North Anglesey Marine/Gogledd Môn Forol SAC).

Surveys completed: walkover area 189m²; number of quadrats 27, timed species searches Pacific oyster – 70mins.

Number of volunteers: 17, number of new recruits coming to group surveys: 6, Have-a-go attendees: 4

Seasonal findings – eggs are beginning to appear in numbers, showing signs of spring in the intertidal area, again. Max, one of our volunteers who’s been snorkelling, reported seeing some common whelks actually laying the eggs we’ve been finding empty on the strandline too. Sue was the first to report having found paddleworm eggs on shore (main pic) and more and more we’ve been seeing eggs of intertidal fish, sea slugs, other molluscs (e.g. netted dog whelk) and a berried sea spider found by Emily on the PMNHS fieldtrip.

Species feature:

Mussels – as part of the connection with NRW to help these surveys be as relevant as possible to MPA monitoring we’ve been asked to keep an eye out on shore for particular features. One feature in particular is mussels growing within sediment – a habitat feature as well as a species feature. In Wales mussel recruitment has been seen to be reduced during monitoring of MPAs. A theory for this is the summer winds which are believed to be blowing the result of the summer spawning off shore, possibly over to Ireland.

Mussels are indicators of the conditions of a shore, as they’re characteristic of many intertidal communities. Mussels building in number in sediment require a settled period of weather, but once settled with a network of their byssus (attachment) threads they collect areas of pseudo-faces (filtered out non-food items from the water). This can then change the sand to a muddier habitat, providing habitat for a variety of other species, which themselves together with the mussels are important food items for fish and seabirds. Some Special Protection Areas (SPAs) a protected area for bird species, are reliant on mussel beds to provide year-round feeding.

Sea squirts can be tricky to see let alone ID. An important group, they feature in several important habitats around the Welsh coast SSSIs and several of our INNS species are sea squirts. So, we had an excellent introduction to one such INNS sea squirt the orange-tipped sea squirt (Corella eumyota) at the PMNHS field trip mid-month. Here’s how to ID them compared to a similar, Native species of squirt.    

On shore this month, also we found (and heard similar reports from elsewhere) what looked like mating worm pipefish/pibell fôr leiaf (Nerophis lumbriciformis). Pipefish species are relatives of sea horses and have the same altered way of reproducing. Reece managed to get a video of the two found under rocks at Trearddur bay, which you can see here.

The Shoresearch surveys are designed to help monitor some areas of shore by volunteers recording what they find using various types of surveys. Training is given to the volunteers who sign up to help us carry out these surveys.

We are liaising with other organisations to hone these surveys, so they become a vital tool in the help to monitor wildlife in our intertidal areas. Whilst they can also help to introduce volunteers to the species which live in this intertidal zone, the ideal is to build up some regular teams to regularly survey certain areas, building a clearer picture over the long term and in particular to keep an eye out for Invasive species and Climate change indicators.

If you would like to join us to volunteer your time at our repeated survey sites, then please get in touch. It is likely to be just one 2-3 hr session out on shore once every month at the least, as well as any time you can spare to do online training or website reading. 

Want to help us with Shoresearch Volunteering?

Of course, feel free to help in other ways too via becoming a member, donating or buying a gift membership for someone by heading to your local Wildlife Trust website. Thank you.

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