The Shoresearches were carried out at Llandudno Pier (PEN Y GOGARTH/GREAT ORMES HEAD SSSI, Y Fenai a Bae Conwy / Menai Strait and Conwy Bay SAC, Liverpool Bay / Bae Lerpwl SPA), Criccieth (GLANLLYNNAU A GLANNAU PEN-Y-CHAIN I GRICIETH SSSI , Northern Cardigan Bay / Gogledd Bae Ceredigion SPA, Pen Llyn a’r Sarnau / Lleyn Peninsula and the Sarnau SAC, visit https://www.penllynarsarnau.co.uk/ for more information) and Porth Swtan which falls under North Anglesey Marine / Gogledd Môn Forol SAC and Anglesey Terns / Morwenoliaid Ynys Môn SPA. Porth Swtan does not fall under any SSSI, however it was visited to search for carpet sea squirt, an invasive species known to live in Holyhead marina, that could have travelled during storms.

Surveys completed Walkover area: 1757 m²; Number of quadrats: 5; 

Number of volunteers: 14; Number of new recruits coming to group surveys: 6; Have-a-go attendees: 2

Timed species searches (for INNS during National Invasive Species Week): Slipper limpet – 90 minutes; Wakame – 80 minutes; Wireweed – 40 minutes; Carpet Sea Squirt – 150 minutes

Seasonal findings

The seasonal findings this month was the Spider Crab! We came across a lovely one on the shore at Llandudno Pier’s Shoresearch hiding underneath some rocks. To make sure it was nice and safe it was carried back into the ocean and set free, to protect it from any predators that could have been eyeing it up.

The Spider Crab was chosen as the seasonal findings as you may be more likely to find these crabs and especially their moults around this time of year as they are coming into the breeding season. Crabs regularly moult their exoskeleton to grow larger. During the mating season, when female crabs moult they become receptive to mate, releasing pheromones to attract the males nearby. Although other crab species can moult throughout the year, many will use the timing of the spring plankton bloom to do so. Therefore, you are more likely to find all sorts of crab moults this time of year.

To help you identify any crab moults you find on your searches, check out this video of some of the ones we’ve seen across North Wales so far: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPIWlyQvB8I

The first of our species features found this month is the amazing Dog Whelk/gwichiad y cwn (Nucella lapillus)! They can be found all over the shores in North Wales, but you may well see groups in Spring and Summer as they cluster to mate and lay eggs (see image of eggs).

On a Shoresearch in Llandudno Pier, two Dog Whelks were spotted whilst mating and laying their eggs (see photo). Dog Whelk eggs are easily spotted as they usually appear as yellow (sometimes pink) capsules stuck onto rocks, usually well-hidden to avoid any prey eating them. Each one of these capsules contain up to 1000 eggs, however most will become food for the few that hatch.

Our next find this month is Dead man’s fingers/llaw farw (Alcyonium digitatum), a soft coral, usually white or orange. The Dead man’s fingers that we found were white and hanging off rocks on the shore (see photo). They usually grow on hard surfaces and can grow beneath the sea down to 50 metres! Even though it appears to be one animal, each Dead man’s fingers are a colony of small, individual animals sharing the single gelatinous skeleton.

The name is derived from when they branch into lobes, creating an illusion of fingers on a hand. When wanting to feed, the polyps extend their bodies and release tentacles out to feed on the plankton that are passing. We managed to capture a photo of a dead man’s finger with the ‘furry appearance’ (see photo). Although they are around all year, in Autumn they retract and appear to have shrunk. During their shrunken time they do not feed meaning the ‘furry appearance’ will not be seen. Instead, they are preparing for spawning as they grow back each year. The colony can live at least 20 years!

Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS)

As you know, this month contained Invasive Species Awareness Week, therefore we thought it was only right to include a section about the INNS found this month during Shoresearches.

One of the species found was Wireweed/sargaswm (Sargassum muticum), this was found at two sites this month, firstly at Criccieth by Reece Halstead, during a timed species search, then again at Porth Swtan during the Walkover surveys. Wireweed can be spotted by it floating on top of the water due to the small floats situated along the stipe.

The next species is the Slipper Limpet (Crepidula fornicata), this was found by Julie Rose on the south coast of the Menai strait. Slipper Limpets can be identified by the white-projecting plate giving it it’s slipper appearance or by its orange stripes when small. They quickly build tower of individuals sitting on top of each other and this is how they then breed.

Oyster Thief (Colpomenia peregrina) was another species that was found during this month’s Shoresearches. The Oyster Thief was found by Reece Halstead at Rhosneigr. Oyster Thief appears as an inflated, thin-walled hollow sphere.

Finally, the Invasive Barnacle, Austrominius modestus can be found on multiple shores. They can be distinguished from the other barnacles as they only have 4 calcified plates instead of 6. They appear symmetrical and have a diamond-shaped opening.

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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