Located on the shores of the UK’s first National Marine Park, Mount Batten Bay is a small sand and shingle beach with stunning views of Plymouth Sound and Drake’s island. Sheltered behind the break water, the beach offers a wonderful habitat for many marine species, such as Snakelock’s Anemones and the temperamental Velvet Swimming Crabs, allowing for some outstanding rock pooling.
Firestone bay is a small pebble beach to the West of Plymouth Sound located next to Devil’s Point. It provides great views of Mount Edgcumbe, Stonehouse peninsula and Drake’s Island. Connected to the popular Royal William Yard via an historic archway through the sea wall is a popular spot for swimmers, snorkelers and paddleboarders, with areas marked with yellow buoys while the nearby tidal pool offers an area for people wanting to just dip their toes in.
Barnacles, or Cirripedia, are one of the most abundant groups of species present on many rocky shores. However, to the untrained eye, the grey-white carpet of miniature creatures coating the rocks underfoot can seem an identification nightmare. Recently, we were extremely fortunate to have barnacle expert Mike Puleston give us a talk full of the tricks of the trade when it comes to UK barnacle ID.
The Atlantic bobtail squid (Sepiola atlantica) is truly a hidden gem of the rocky shore. These camouflage wizards are so easy to overlook that they are usually only spotted when accidentally disturbed, spending much of their time buried in the sand with only their eyes peeking out.
The edible crab (Cancer pagurus), also known as the pasty crab to those of us in Cornwall or the brown crab is a common crab found under rocks along our coasts. They get their name from their reddy-brown colour and a large oval-shaped carapace that is crimped around the edges to resemble a pie crust.
Also known as the common blenny, the shanny is one of the most common and characterful of all rock pool residents. With their downturned smile and discerning gaze, these fierce fish are not to be overlooked!
