Low tide .....

[kedigato]

..... on the beach at Monte Gordo, Algarve, Portugal, October 2008.


I loved the pattern the water left when it went out -




Seagulls -






A little crab looking out of his shell -

[kedigato]

I think this is the egg case of something, but I don't know what. If anyone does, please tell me.





There were only a few of these small birds. They walked around, almost ran, so quickly that it was difficult to get a pic of one.






Not sure what this was - some sort of ray? - but it was unfortunately dead -

[kedigato]

Shells galore! -




Another dead fish -




A pure white feather -

[kedigato]

Beach walkers -





Starfish -







Jellyfish -

[kedigato]

Pattern in wet sand -




Seaweed swaying in the water -





Both halves of a thorny shell -





Just sand -

[DAG]

Very nice varied and interesting selection of pics kedi, I am fascinated by that crab, I have never seen one looking out of its shell like that!

Thanks for the day out!

[nazimundo]

Some lovely pictures Kedi, love the crab. I wonder why there are all the dead fish? I think the egg case is one from an Undulate Ray.



Alfie

[kedigato]

Thanks DAG and Alfie!

DAG, I think I have a few more pics of this crab, I must go over to PhotoImpression and look for another good one. It's just a pity he didn't wave ;D

Alfie, I think all these dead fish, jellyfish, etc, are always there, we just don't see them when the tide is in. They are part of the food-chain of other animals/fish. There were a few peck marks on both of the fish, but I obviously found them before they were munched on too much. That wouldn't have made for a very nice photo

Re the egg case. I've googled your Undulate Ray but I am sure that is not the one, the spots are not right. Have you looked over in GC re it, there was a discussion going on as to what it was. I wish I could find a place where I could post it to finally find out what it is.

[kedigato]

DAG - here are some more pics of that crab in the shell. These ones have been cropped.


This one is not quite so clear as it was covered with water, but just look at the way it is staring!




This one is clearer, out of the water -

[DAG]

Well I appreciate the extra pictures, but I don't ever remember seeing any crabs that look like that!

That shell is an interesting shape!

[kedigato]

Well, perhaps they are not crabs, perhaps they are winkles or something

[DAG]

No, I am sure you are right, just never seen that type!

Winkles are those revolting things that I have eaten when my grandmother used to give me some and you dig the middle edible bit out with a pin and it looks like it came out of someones nose! Errrrkkkk, what a horrible thought! ;D

[kedigato]

How disgusting! They looked so awful that I could never bring myself to ever try them, the mere thought turned my stomach over. I had an auntie who loved them, she said they tasted so yummy with a dash of vinegar on them.

[DAG]

;D Yes, after over 60 years, I couldn't remember whether it was vinegar or salt to put on them! ;D But it needed something!

Then she washed it down with a glass of Guinness! ;D

How simple their lives were, only 2 generations ago!

[nazimundo]

I think your crabs are a kind of Hermit crab that live in empty sea shells and as they grow they move into bigger ones, they can often be found in rock pools.

www.itsnature.org/sea/other/hermit-crab/

As for your winkles Dag I also think they look awful, I can remember trying them once I spat it out straight away it was horrible.

My late mother in law used to love them until one day after returning from the beach with the kids bucket full she put them in the pan to boil them she was called away to see to something else, when she returned they were slithering up the inside of the pan . She never ate any more ;D ;D

Alfie