Kilchoan Early Bird has been exploring the wildlife of West Ardnamurchan's sandy beaches, and sends these pictures of two of the things he's found. This looks as if it may be the European sand flea,
Talitrus saltator. During the day it remains buried in the sand, coming out at night to feed on plant debris. It's said that it can jump a metre, hence its other name, sand hopper.
This looks like sea holly,
Eryngiums maritime, which, despite its name, isn't related to the holly tree but to.... the carrot.
Many thanks to Kilchoan Early Bird for the pictures.
I don't know what they're called but is it not one of these things that, if you turn over a pile of seaweed cast up on the beach, dozens of them fly into the air?
ReplyDelete