As the tide receded at East Head we made our way along the beach towards the end of the dunes. A dozen Sanderling were running to and fro along the edge of the sea. They are the most engaging birds, reluctant to fly when approached by people or dogs, but scurrying along like clockwork toys over the sand.
I like to pick up a selection of shells and other bits and pieces of marine life on a beach as it gives a good indication of the sort of habitats and the diversity of life offshore. By far the most numerous shells here at West Wittering are Slipper Limpets Crepidula fornicata outnumbering all other species combined many times over. They are not native species, but an alien from North America and a pest of oyster beds. But there quite a few other species to be found: Dog Whelk Nucella lapillus, the intricately sculpted Common Piddock Pholas dactylus, Variegated Scallop Chlamys varia with its one sided ‘wing’, Common Topshell Calliostoma zizyphinum, and the Turban Topshell Gibbula magus, Pullet Carpet shell Venerupis pullastra, Common Cockle Cerastoderma edule. There are usually quite a few razor shells and the one I picked up was the smaller Curved Razor Ensis ensis. It was a cold day with a biting wind, so the rest of the party were not keen to linger on the beach picking up shells, so this is a small selection of what might have been found given more time.
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