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Rockpooling is a centuries-old seaside tradition and a wonderful family day out activity option. While summertime is the most suitable season to explore beaches along the coast, scrambling over a rocky shoreline looking for hidden marine creatures can be enjoyed year-round, when the tide is low and animal-rich rock pools are exposed. So, what can you expect to uncover while rockpooling?
Click through this gallery for a low water leisure time guide.
Rockpooling is a traditional summertime seaside activity. But while it's something best undertaken in warm, favorable weather conditions, you can explore the fascinating hidden world of the sea's creatures any time of year.
A glass jar is a handy item to have ready when collecting empty shells or seaweed samples. Just add a little sea water to keep everything moist.
Another common species of seaweed, toothed wrack is found along the Atlantic coast of Europe. It's easy to identify, the serrated edge of the fonds giving this seaweed its name.
Found on the coasts of the North Sea, the western Baltic Sea, and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, bladder wrack is a common seaweed species. It has short stalks at the end of each fond, and pairs of air bladders covering them. Incidentally, bladder wrack was the original source of iodine, a discovery made in 1811. It was used extensively to treat goitre, a swelling of the thyroid gland related to iodine deficiency.
Native to the north-east Atlantic Ocean and Baltic Sea, the shore crab is the most common crab encountered on British shores. It's also known as the European green crab.
Often mistaken for an eel due to its flattened, elongated body, the butterfish (also known as a gunnel) is one of two species of gunnel native to the Atlantic Ocean, the other being the banded gunnel. Interestingly, these fish are capable of remaining above the waterline at low tide and breathing air.
You can find limpets across nearly every rocky shore you visit. They are in fact aquatic snails wrapped in a conical shell with a very strong foot, which enables them to cling vice-like to rocks and large stones.
Resident along the northeastern and northwestern shores of the Atlantic Ocean, the periwinkle is often found in small tide pools, but may also be found in muddy habitats such as estuaries.
Who doesn't like starfish? These wonderful creatures can be found in most rock pools along the northeastern shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Starfish are not happy out of water and will begin to curl upwards when stressed. So if you handle one, do so inside the pool or within a bucket of sea water.
This diminutive anemone is distinguished by its strawberry red color, and is always a treat to discover. You'll find them anchored to rocky surfaces, where they let the flow of water brush over their soft tentacles, making them sway gently as if to music.
Often these light egg cases are washed up by the sea and end up trapped in small rock pools, or stranded on rock surfaces, like this spotted ray egg case. If you find a "mermaid's purse," check if there's a shark or ray inside by lifting it in front of a light source and seeing if there’s a silhouette from inside the case. Always place the case back in water afterwards.
Sheltered rocky shores, and shingle or sandy beaches offer up some of the best places for exploring rock pools. You can also search around boulders, driftwood, piers, and pontoons, in fact anything that contains tiny nooks and crannies for wildlife to hide in. But remember: always check tide times, especially if rockpooling on wide open estuary beaches.
With over 800 species of hermit crab, the common hermit crab is found in the colder waters of northern Europe. They are usually seen inside a shell with their eyes, claws, and legs protruding outwards. A hermit crab lives like this because it doesn't have a hard carapace shell of its own and has to find and use the shell of another creature.
Look out for the bright red eyes of this speedy crab in rock pools. But beware! This is the largest of the swimming crab family found in British coastal waters and they're notoriously feisty. If they feel threatened, they can give you a painful nip.
The common prawn is a familiar sight to anyone who has spent time exploring rock pools—particularly their characteristic quick dart into the darkness just as you go to catch them in your net! Stealth and patience is required to nab one of these little guys.
The rock goby prefers rocky sea floors below the low tide mark, yet it can be found in larger rock pools in summer. This fish is usually black with white blotches, but it can change color. So you'll need a keen pair of eyes to spot one.
Found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, the tentacles of snakelocks anemone are usually a deep green color with purple tips. They are usually found in the sunniest of rock pools. But be careful: those tentacles give a nasty sting!
These sticky little crustaceans are related to crabs, lobsters, and shrimps. Barnacles are exclusively marine, and tend to live in shallow and tidal waters.
Away from rock pools, you'll probably encounter a razor shell while walking on the beach. It is known for its elongated, rectangular shape, which presents a similarity to the straight razor, hence its name.
While usually found hovering in and among seaweed or seagrass, these colorful little fish occasionally end up trapped in shallow rock pools where they can be observed in all their dainty splendor.
Sources: (The Wildlife Trusts) (National History Museum)
See also: Eating fish: how healthy is it really?
Bring with you a small bucket, which you can submerge and then see what's inside when you pull it back up. Only use a landing net for bigger creatures as smaller specimens can get stuck in the net, which can seriously harm them. Once you're done observing and taking any notes, slowly push the bucket back into the water, returning anything you've caught back to their home.
The best areas to look are those closest to the sea. The nearer the ocean, the longer a rockpool is likely to stay submerged. This is where you'll find the majority of marine creatures.
So, you've got your bucket, and a net if need be. What's out there to find? Let's take a look.
Also known as the brown crab, this species of crustacean is found in the North Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and occasionally the Mediterranean Sea. It has an oval carapace (upper section of the shell) with a characteristic "pie crust" edge and black tips to the large claws.
This sea snail is abundant on rocky shores around the UK. It's a voracious predator, and you'll likely see them out of the water feasting on mussels and barnacles before retreating to crevices to rest.
This rock pool is swimming with jellyfish! Let's explore further!
Also known as the common mussel, this species has a large range, and empty shells are commonly found on beaches around the world. They live in intertidal areas attached to rocks. At low water you can see them gathered in clusters, their shells shimmering in the light.
What is a mermaid's purse? It's the rather fanciful name given to the egg cases of sharks and rays. Pictured are the egg cases of a small-spotted catshark.
A resident of the eastern Atlantic Ocean, the fivebeard rockling is named for five barbels around its mouth, two above either nostril and a single barbel on the lower jaw. They are usually found in rocky areas, but can be seen in breakwater pools on sandy shores.
The fronds of this yellow-brown seaweed, which grows in tufts at the very top of rocky shores of Europe, curl at the sides, creating the channel that gives channelled wrack its name.
Blennies are widely distributed in coastal waters, and you'll often see them resting on the bottom of rock pools, supported by modified fins towards the front of their body.
The joys of rockpooling
How to enjoy low water leisure time
LIFESTYLE Outdoors
Rockpooling is a centuries-old seaside tradition and a wonderful activity for a family day out. While summertime is the most suitable season to explore beaches along the coast, scrambling over a rocky shoreline looking for hidden marine creatures can be enjoyed year-round, when the tide is low and animal-rich rock pools are exposed. So, what can you expect to uncover while rockpooling?
Click through this gallery for a low water leisure time guide.