Our annual visit away took us to Penzance this year to the shores of Mounts Bay, on 18 &19 April.
Eighteen of us, under the expert and helpful guidance of Trudy Russell & Jason Birt, visited Battery Rocks, Penzance, and Marazion on consecutive days. Local expert Dave Fenwick Sr, of APHOTOMARINE, joined us on both occasions and gave very generously of his huge experience and encyclopaedic knowledge. He also led a midnight ramble to Long Rock, Penzance, accompanied by Coastwise stalwarts Janice Whittington and Robert Durrant as well as Trudy & Jason.
Saturday’s weather, with grey skies and a biting wind, boded ill, but not for long as Battery Rocks proved to be species rich, sightings ranging from the exquisite nudibranchs Favorinus branchialis feeding on a Sea Lemon eggs to the extraordinary Common Piddock along with evidence of its rock boring.
Marazion brought us a different but equally interesting array of finds with the Little Cuttlefish and Seven-armed Starfish attracting particular attention. The full list, kindly collated by Jay Nicholson, reveals a wide array of animals previously unfamiliar to most of us, and some quite rare. For many of these finds we must thank Dave Fenwick, enthusiastically supported by Robert Durrant whose growing expertise is so valuable to Coastwise.
“Marazion was quite magical” was the verdict from Malcolm Roberts, a view shared by all. Our visit to the shores round St Michael’s Mount would be hard to beat. A photographer’s dream, blue skies, transparent seas, eel grass beds and rocky shores provided a wonderful setting for plenty of marine life. We made the most of it and shared our experiences and excitement during an excellent lunch at the Godolphin Arms.
Having a good time together is an important part of these visits.
On the right are the nudibranch Favorinus branchialis, and a Little Cuttlefish.
This year visit organiser Mavis Symons who works so hard to make them a success could not be with us. That must not happen again.