Pelican's Foot Shell

Pelican's foot shell (Aporrhais pespelecani)

Used to find quite a number of these on the beach in Largo but this is the first one that I've found for a while. The main body of the shell is a whorled spire but the shell opening has an extended lip, shaped like the webbed foot of a bird and drawn out into four points. This one was 3.5cm. long although they can be up to 5cm. in length. I suspect this shell has been weathered by time and tide as the points have become very rounded. It's a sublittoral deep water species not normally found living on the shore.

Holes in Sandstone

Walking the beach at low tide and depending on how the sand has shifted often spot something that I hadn't noticed before. Yesterday, quite near to the rocky outcrop close to Lower Largo Harbour, noticed these flat red sandstone rocks pitted with holes. They are likely to have been made by a rock boring mollusc, such as a common piddock (Pholas dactylus) or more likely, since they are quite small, a wrinkled rock borer (Hiatella Arctica).

Also came across this small (10cm in length) piece of sandstone with some ring markings. Not sure what these have been made by - whether natural or man-made?

Translucent Snail Shell

A small empty snail shell around 1cm. across

There are always empty snail shells to be found in the garden, but I've never seen quite such a delicate shell before. The shell is so thin that it's almost transparent and the slightest pressure would crush it.

Periwinkles Making Tracks

Periwinkle. Can just see the tentacles coming out from the front of the shell.

Took a walk from Lower Largo along the disused railway line. Saw a yellow wagtail in the trees on the landward side of the path. Walked back along the beach as the tide was going out. Noticed there were tracked grooves in the sand, and then saw that it was the periwinkles that were making the tracks.

In this photo (above) can clearly see the track that the periwinkle has made.

Periwinkles attached to a nearby rock. The periwinkles on the move seemed to be going in the direction of this rock. (Click on photos to see larger images)

Garden Snail

Garden Snail - Helix aspersa

We might get fed up with all the April showers, but snails just love the rain. The wet summer last year suited them just fine. This one was on the side of a flower pot that I was about to use, and when I moved it, it wandered off down the path and into the undergrowth.