Empty Barnacle Shells

Spotted this sculptured-looking shell on the beach at the Temple in Lower Largo. I think that it's a common otter shell (Lutraria lutraria) but it's encrusted with empty barnacle shells, probably from the acorn barnacle (Semibalanus balanoides) which has a diamond shaped aperture.

Close up of the empty barnacle shells which have a cone shaped shell-wall comprising a number of calcareous plates. In acorn barnacles the shell-wall consists of 6 greyish-white plates and there is also a membranous basal plate. The opening at the top of the 'cone' is diamond-shaped.

One of the barnacles has been knocked off but can still see the basal plate by which it was attached (middle left of photo).

A Sparkling Christmas Day at Shell Bay

Looking across Largo Bay to Largo Law from the approach to Ruddons Point.

Although frosty it was a beautiful morning yesterday so we drove to Elie and parked at the Coastal Path car park just behind the caravan park at Shell Bay. Took the marked path through the woods, then skirted the trees past some spectacular sand dunes overlooking the salt marshes which surround the Cocklemill Burn and then on down the grassy slopes to Ruddons Point. Having explored the point walked across the sands of Shell Bay and then up the tarmacked road of the caravan park back to the car park. It makes a good round walk.

East and West Lomond in the distance.

The large wind turbine at Methil stands out.

Lower largo and Lundin Links across the bay.

A cairn made up of the rubbish that collects on the shore.

One of several huge mounds of scallop shells at the campsite.

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.

Scallop Shell Colour Variation

My favourite shells are those of the various scallops, particularly the small delicate ones. These, all between 3 and 4 cms across, were collected on the beach between Lundin Links and Lower Largo. They vary in colour from a pale creamy peach through reds to black.
The colour variation may be due to environmental conditions. For example, chemical reactions deep in the sand produce iron sulphide which is black in colour and it is this which can cause black colouration. However, genetic factors may also be involved.

Broken Mussel Shell

Sometimes something quite common on the beach catches my attention, like this broken piece of mussel shell. I think it's just the way the outer black coating of the shell has worn away, leaving various colours and patterns behind.

Blackened Seashells

Blackened oyster shells (left) cockle shells (right) and scallop shell (centre).

I had occasionally seen partly blackened cockle shells on the beach at Lower Largo, then last week I picked up two black oyster shells and a black scallop shell. I originally thought that the cause might be connected with the Fife coal deposits, but now I don't think that is the cause and I am indebted to 'Jessica's Nature Blog' for an explanation. It's quite a complicated process but as I understand it, once the animal dies the shell over time may become buried deep in the sand by the action of wind and wave power. At this deep level there is a lack of oxygen and the only bacteria that can survive are anaerobes. As these anaerobic bacteria feed on organic matter that is present in the sand they produce hydrogen sulphide. This chemical reacts with iron oxide present on the sand grains to produce iron sulphide which is black in colour and it is this which can turn the deeply buried shells black.

Cockle Shells

Until recently I didn't realise that there were several different species of cockle around Britains shores. I think that I have the shells of two different species here - on the right the common cockle (Cerastoderma edule) and on the left the prickly cockle (Acanthocardia echinata). Identification from the shell can be difficult because the shell may be worn thin from time and tide.

On the inside the ribs of the prickly cockle are visible over the whole shell whereas those of the common cockle are only visible towards the outer margin.

In the prickly cockle the outer surface is covered in raised spines though these become worn in beached shells. To confuse matters further there is also a spiny cockle ((Acanthocardia aculeata) and identification between the two can be difficult.

Limpet Art

I spotted this arrangement of limpet shells from the path above the beach at Lundin Links. The white shells glistening in the sun. Someone had taken the time and patience to collect all the shells and then arrange them. There were two more shell and pebble collections closeby. So cheers to the unknown artist or artists. The arrangements brightened up my day.

Faroe Sunset Shell

Picked up a very pretty little shell, around 4.5cm in length on the beach in Lundin Links, one that I hadn't seen before. I thought it looked like a pair of angel's wings! After a bit of searching I identified it as Gari fervensis with the common name Faroe sunset shell.

 The inside of the shell.

The name comes from the markings on the shell which look like rays of the setting sun on the horizon.

Barnacles et al.

 On barnacle covered rocks one can sometimes see tiny periwinkles between and sometimes in the barnacle shells.

In this photo as well as the periwinkles there are also tiny mussels. Notice also the pitting on the barnacle shells. (Click to enlarge photo) The pitting is said to be caused by a lichen.
Note: For more information on the small periwinkles and the pitted barnacles, I highly recommend 'Jessica's Nature Blog.'

Beadlet Sea Anemones

A row of beadlet sea anemones (Actinia equina) with their tentacles out. Note also the periwinkles tightly wedged above and the barnacles and limpets clinging to the rock.

In this photo can see the blue beads on the sea anemone on the right that give rise to the name.

Art Amongst the Dunes

Sometimes people leave their creations for everyone to enjoy - this one of shells and stones on the Massney Braes in Lundin Links.

This striking sculpture of flotsam, jetsam and litter stands high on the dune between Dumbarnie Links and Shell Bay. I took this picture last year but I think that it is still there.

Looking into a Whelk Shell

Common Whelk or Buckie. (Buccinum undatum)
Empty whelk shells are common on the beach in Largo. However this one was on the pier and I was surprised when I turned it over to find the whelk still inside. Possibly it had been dredged up with a creel. The foot can just be seen behind the round operculum with which it can close the opening of the shell.

The King Scallop

Great or King Scallop - Pecten Maximus - lying in its shell. (Click on photo to see larger image)

Found a largely intact scallop on the beach at Lower Largo. The two parts of the shell were still hinged together and it was roughly 15 centimetres (5 inches) across at the widest part. The ears of the hinge of this sallop are equal in size. I've often found fragments of scallop shells before but this was the first time I'd found a whole one. The white part and the coral or roe could still be seen inside. I do like the French name for this scallop - Coquille St Jacques. Also love eating them stir-fried in garlic and herb butter with chopped bacon, shallots, mushrooms and a dash of white wine. Definitely not this one though, as not sure how long it had been lying on the beach.

Pecten maximus - Lower valve

Pecten Maximus - upper valve (much flatter part of the shell.)

The coral or roe of the scallop can be seen in this photo.

Tube Worms

Tube worms on stone, mussel shells, whelk shell and cockle shell.

I'd noticed that some shells on the beach, particularly mussel shells, had strange white squiggly deposits on them. I assumed this was some sort of chalky material. It took me a little while to find out exactly what these were, but the Internet can be a wonderful thing and simply putting the question 'What are the white squiggly things on mussel shells?' to Google gave me the answer. They are in fact the homes of tiny tube worms, the examples in the photo, which I collected from the beach at Lundin Links today, are I think Keel Worms (Pomatoceros Species). They live permanently attached to hard structures, such as stones or shells, living inside a protective tube that they produce themselves from sand grains a chalky substance and mucus secretions. The tube narrows to a point at the tail end and has a prominent “keel” or ridge along its length. At high tide the keel worm puts out a small crown of colourful tentacles, which filter food particles from the water. When the tide goes out it withdraws the tentacles back into the tube

Life on the Rocks

Sunday morning, walked down to the beach. The tide was right out, which gave an oppotunity to wander amongst the rocks to see what I could see. Very windy and not many birds about, apart from black-headed gulls, which always seem to be about whatever the weather.

Large mussel shell, whelks eggcase, razor shell.

Whelks eggcases. I've often seen these strange spongy objects on the beach and wondered what they were. I didn't even know where to start looking them up, so had to go through my seashore guide page by page. Whelks lay their eggs in shallow water attached to rocks or even wooden structures like pier posts. After stormy weather as we've had over the last few days they get detached and washed up on to the beach.

Periwnkles on small rock with seaweed attached.

Limpets on barnacle encrusted rocks.

Young mussels, limpet and barnacles.