ETS Animal Facts Presents – The Cushion Star

Cushion Star (Cussion Star  Asterina Gibbosa)

Found under large rocks and stones on the lower shore and the more exposed shore, it is also a common rockpool inhabitant. The cushion star is found as deep as 100m in the sub littoral zone. Cushions found lower on the shore are generally orange, whilst those specimens found in rock pools and higher on the shore are an olive green.

 

A. Gibbosa is an omnivorous scavenger eating microorganisms, decaying seaweed and dead invertebrates. It does this by inverting the walls of its stomach called lobes through its mouth. Along with P. Vulgata Cushion Stars are a protandrous hermaphrodite, maturing at about 10mm in diameter or 2 years as a male, then at 4 years old changes into a female this would be about 20mm. Females may lay up to 1000 orange coloured eggs under rocks in crevices and after 2 – 3 weeks these eggs hatch into tiny star fish. A cushion could live up to 7 years producing between 3 and 7 broods.

Try this at Home: Samphire Fritters

Samphire fritters with fresh tomato salsa

Serves four as a starter.

200g marsh samphire
1 egg, separated
50g plain flour
1 tbsp olive oil
A pinch of salt
100ml water
Groundnut oil, for deep-frying

For the salsa

500g ripe, full-flavoured tomatoes
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium shallot or 1 small red onion, peeled and finely chopped
A squeeze of lemon juice (or a dash of cider vinegar)
A pinch of sugar
Salt and ground black pepper

First prepare the salsa. Put the tomatoes in a bowl, pour over enough boiling water to cover, leave for 30 seconds, then drain. Peel the tomatoes, cut them into quarters and scoop (or squeeze) out the seeds, so you’re left with skinless, seedless sweet tomato flesh. Chop the flesh very finely, then mix it with the remaining salsa ingredients. Set aside while you prepare the samphire.

Pick over the samphire as described in the first recipe, though this time try to keep it in quite large pieces. Wash it well, then carefully pat it dry (if it’s wet, the batter won’t stick to it).

Combine the egg yolk with the flour, oil, salt and water, then beat to a smooth paste.

Pour at least 5cm depth of oil into a deep, heavy-based pan and bring up to 175°C (ie, when a cube of white bread dropped into the oil turns golden brown in 50-60 seconds). Just before you want to start frying, beat the egg white until it holds stiff peaks, then fold it into the batter.

Dip the fronds of samphire into the batter, making sure they’re well covered, then drop a few at a time into the hot oil. Fry for one to two minutes, or until golden brown, then scoop out with a slotted spoon or wire ‘spider’ and drain on kitchen paper. Serve straight away with the salsa. ·

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2007/jun/30/features.weekend

May @ Explore the Shore

May is fantastic month to be beside the sea on the north coast of Cornwall. The air is getting warmer, the sea temperatures are too and the rock pools are filling up with their annual guests. Crabs of all shapes and sizes can be seen going about their business foraging on the rock pool floor. Rocky shore fish also take advantage of the calm conditions, juvenile mullet using the `larger rock pools as nurseries. And it won’t be too long before the strange and beautiful sea hares come in their thousands to graze in the pools too.

With such calm weather it is also an awesome time to witness some of the best migrating birds flutter past Trevose Head. The headland sticking out the way it does provides an out-post for sea birds and other species to have a quick perch and get on their ways.

Cliff tops and dunes are also starting to buzz with life. Rabbits and hares are a common sight, but there are a few lizards basking in the warm rays of sun if you’re willing to look hard enough. And with such an abundance of dune life the predators are out in force too,  stoats on land can be seen at dusk frenetically going about business, and in the air buzzards patrol patiently waiting for a small animal to make a mistake.

With all this activity on the coast Explore the Shore is keen to get out on the shore and find as much as we can. If you’re interested about what might be out there, and want to learn more, give us a call on 01841 520 052 or 0740 363 969 3. Alternatively email us on exploretheshore@gmail.com.

We are One

The waves have stopped, the wind too has ceased to blow and for today things are calm. And if you were to visit the beach anywhere around Cornwall today you might find people enjoying the beach, fishing our seas, walking the coast paths or just relaxing on a warm golden patch of sand. When the weather is good our coast gets used to its full potential.

Although it is great to see so many people out making the most of our coast, it is a reminder that it is all to easy to turn our backs on the coast when the weather gets nasty. And this in a sense is separating us from what is really out there.

Nature does not turn off when it gets windy or rainy, the fish and crabs of the rock pools don’t disappear when the cornish mizzle comes in, so why do we neglect our coast when the weather is bad? I am luck enough to live a stones throw from many of the best beaches on the north coast, and I for me (at least) I enjoy the change from day to day, not cherry picking days in which to go to the shore.

The British weather can be unpredictable at the best of times, so make the most of it! Rock pooling is a fantastic gateway into learning more about the wildlife of Britain. And when it is a bit wet out side just remember that we too are a part of the world. We are one with everything on the planet, and you might have to start with the smallest crab to realise it. Our world is precious, and if we forget about it on rainy days we can’t be fully connected with it. So get out there, and get interested. Just wear jacket and waterproof trousers!

Explore & Art Days Out

This year Explore the Shore is teaming up with local art sensation Toby Ray.

Explore & Art days out are designed to make the most of a day out on the coast.

Learn with Explore the Shores Ocean Scientist Dom about everything that is in rock pools, get your hands wet and indulged your imagination and senses in the out door aquariums that are rock pools. Then once sufficiently salty fine artist Toby Ray will take you to produce a real work of art. Get inspired from the beauty of North Cornwall and get painting! Expert fine artist Toby will step you through everything you need to know to make a piece of art you can take home and have for ever as a memory of the day.

The Experience is approximately 4.5 hours long, a 2 hour rocky shore ramble with Explore the Shore and a 2 hour art experience with Toby Ray. With a 30 min break for food and refreshments. The Explore and Art days out can be held at Watergate bay or Constantine Bay.

Explore & Art days are £50 per person. All rockpooling and art equipment is provided in the price of the courses.

A bit about Toby Ray:

After completing a Fine Art degree in Cardiff Toby went on to run his own successful gallery/studio in Wembury, South Devon. His travels took him to New Zealand for a year where he exhibited around the Auckland area and in the surfing mecca of Raglan. Toby relocated down the coast to Newquay from St Merryn in 2007. His time is spent either in the studio or out in the open air, painting the stretch of coast between Crantock and Constantine. “I’m often out and about on my bike either painting on site or sketching and taking photos as reference for artworks back at the studio. My paintings are mainly all about that perfect view from your front room, but then using spraycan stencils to create the inhabitants. Inspiration for my work comes from both the ocean and the urban world”.

http://www.tobyray.co.uk/

If you’re interested in more information about Explore & Art days out, call 01841 520 052 or email exploretheshore@gmail.com

Explore the Shore @ Watergate Bay

Explore the Shore is proud to announce that we will be bringing our knowledge, skills and expertise of everything on the shoreline to North Cornwall’s very own Watergate Bay.

Watergate Bay is a shoreline adventurers playground, with a massive strand line and a wide variety of rock pools and tide pools, it really has everything to offer; from star fish to the smallest of sand hoppers. Whilst exploring the pools and rocks you can learn about the impacts that humans have had on the Watergate Bay area, and see how we can help make our coast a better place.

If you’re looking for the sense of adventure this summer holidays, Explore the Shore at Watergate Bay is where it is at. Discover things you never knew about our british coastline and fall in love with the magnificence of this very special beach!

To make a booking for Watergate Bay email us at exploretheshore@gmail.com or call 01841 520 052

Stormy Seas: Part Deux

Spring is a season that can offer up a variable smorgasbord of weather during the months before summer, and normally it is a season that reminds us that there is a light at the end of the tunnel after winter. However the last couple weeks have dished up weather that would be more at home on the surface of Jupiter!

The last couple days were not an exception. Sixty mile per hour north westerly winds smashed the north coast of Cornwall, it is weather like this that reminds us that we are an island nation living by the sea.

Mother Ivey’s Bay faces directly into the north westerly winds, and the surf generated from this short fetch swell was incredible to watch. The relentless nature of short period swell smashing the cliff and beach is amazing to spectate. It’s days like this that rockpooling is not a good idea, but gets me thinking; “these animals that choose to live in this environment can deal with the most extreme conditions on the planet and survive, glad I’m not a Blenny!”.

When the weather gets this rugged, it churns up the sea making waves, and the Cornish coast has an almost infinite amount of coves, beaches and bays that can be taken advantage of as a sheltered retreat from the elements. And for the crew at Explore the Shore we found ourselves driving down the county to the sheltered south coast to find a wave, rockpools and maybe a hot chocolate!

We ended at Praa Sands in between Falmouth and Penzance. The wind being from the north was blowing the waves into perfect little peak that would roll in, crest and break in a matter of seconds. Having come so far it hold have been rude not to get in! After a quick couple hours in the sea, we headed back to the raging onslaught of the winds that have been smashing our home shores.

Getting back home, thoughts quickly turn to rockpools and what there might be down the beach after the storms have finished, and what animals use this weather to their advantage. Also storm create an opportunity to go foraging for interesting bits and bobs that may have washed ashore. As much as I like the constant change that spring brings, it would be nice to don a pair of shorts and tee shirt soonish!

So from us at Explore the Shore, enjoy the weather, but let’s all wish for some sun so we can go explore on the shore!

Cheers,

Dom

A Day with the O’Neill Surf Academy

Explore the Shore is always looking to expand our rocky shore horizons, and today we took a leap up the coast and headed down to Watergate Bay for a session. The O’Neill Surf Academy was our base, and the session was run in connection with the academy.

The seven strong crew and I headed out with an ebbing tide , walking along Watergate’s expansive strandline finding seaweeds of all descriptions, plastics and a plethora of dead marine life washed up after the last couple days stormy weather. As we headed south down the beach the group was finding spiny star fish, blennys and plenty of molluscs.

It was fantastic to be able to see Watergate Bay and all the marine life that it can sustain, foe a very exposed shoreline it holds many interesting and varied species. And as of today we are proud to announce that Explore the Shore will be running regular rocky shore rambles and other activities from Watergate Bay.

So if you’re interested in finding out more about Watergate Bay’s marine life and want more than just a day on the beach, get in contact with us:

Tel: 01841 520 052

Email: ecploretheshore@gmail.com

Easter Sunday Extravaganza

The Easter holidays are in full swing, and as any of the kids on their holidays will tell you there is only one day that matters… Easter Sunday. For Explore the Shore this Easter was a chocolatey extravaganza on the rocky shore, with a treasure hunt set up for the local children.

Susie of Padstow Mussel Co. arrived at the Boobys Bay to do the annual egg hunt, whilst Explore the Shores very own Dom was getting everything ready for the chocolatey treasure hunt. And just after midday a gang of eager kids gathered on little stoney beach.

With treasure map in hand, the kids set about finding the hidden treasure trove buried somewhere on the beach. Using the map and a bunch of clues the children were finding blennys, crabs and a multitude of rocky shore organisms. A couple hours later and fuelled on the eggs from Susie’s egg hunt the kids had worked out all the clues and set about finding the treasure!

Like a blood thirsty gang of pirates the children had found the treasure, and went about digging it up. Once it was out of the sand the kids were filling their arms trying to get as much chocolate as they could. The looks on their faces was priceless.

This is what Explore the Shore specialises in, making people of all ages fall in love with the rocky shore, whether it be by finding a fish that you may never have seen or having a pirate experience and finding treasure on your favourite beach.

With a massive thanks to everyone that turned up on Sunday to make it a very awesome day, and special thanks to Susie and Polly for the egg hunt that was a complete triumph! Can’t wait for Easter 2013 for the next chocolate overload!

Getting Ready!

After a long mild winter spring has finally come, and here at Explore the Shore we are getting ready for the very best rockpooling season. Having been roaming the coastline for weeks looking for more signs of life in pools and in the shallows, we a glad that most of the summer residents of the pools are back. And that can only mean one thing… ROCKPOOLING!

This year Explore the Shore is dedicated to exploration and adventure and to do so we have invested in some of the finest rockpooling equipment money can buy!

New hand nets are an essential bit of kit, we know that fish and crustacea like a good quality net and thats why we have the best. No rock pool fish to big nor to small can slip through these fine meshes!

This year we are also using new magnifying jars for all those tiny creatures that might be hard for the naked eye to see. Its important that we look at the micro world of rockpools not just the big stuff!

As well as new equipment we have changed up a few things in some our rockpooling courses for this year! We’re not saying too much but they’ll be more adventure, mystery and a good deal of fun, all the things you’ve come to expect from Explore the Shore!

If you’re interested in any session visit our website to check out courses, whats on and any events that might be taking place with Explore the Shore, go to www.exploretheshore.co.uk. Or call 01841 520 052 / 0740 363 969 3