Seashore Safaris 2019 Feedback by Greg Bessant Seashore Safaris

Minnis Bay

West Bay

St Mildred’s

Ramsgate Eastcliff

Ramsgate Western Undercliff

Walpole Bay

Stone Bay

Joss Bay

Botany Bay

Dumpton Gap

Margate Main Sands Seashore Safaris 2019

• People at the Seashore Safaris were • This year a role system was put in registered at the ‘Dry Table’, read place for volunteers so we could through a Health and Safety briefing swop around to get experience. and then went out to the rockpools This seemed to work well with Tony • The finds were brought back to the or Laura allocating the roles each ‘Wet Table’ where our experts morning. identified the creatures and gave • The new media role was very some more information about the important in getting information out finds. about the Seashore Safaris and a • Participants were asked to complete new Instagram site was started. a comments card to provide • After each Safari there was a feedback. sociable debrief over drinks and cake! Number of people coming along to the Seashore Safaris in 2019 (2018, 2017)

• Red shows a reduction in numbers and green an • Minnis Bay 16 (47,60) increase. • West Bay 35 (31,46) • Great to see increases in numbers on 8 of the • St Mildred’s 64 (58,106) Seashore Safaris. • Margate Main Sands 80 (99,96) • The numbers at Minnis Bay and Joss Bay were disappointing. This may be due an early start at • Walpole Bay 87 (n/a, 65) Minnis Bay, 8am! We later found out a water quality warning had been issued incorrectly for • Botany Bay 96 (78,108) Joss Bay. • Joss Bay 18 (70,65) • The volunteers and participants had a great time • Stone Bay 40 (80, 61) with of the 98% of people completing a feedback • Dumpton Gap 109 (108,66) card saying they had enjoyed it very much and 2% said they had enjoyed it. • Ramsgate Eastcliff 74 (n/a 46) • Lots of amazing marine creatures were found and • Ramsgate Western Under Cliff 105 these finds are shown in the next slides. (n/a, 65)

Some very special finds…

Common/ European cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) European lobster (Homarus gammarus) Some very special finds…

Pipefish (Subfamily: Syngnathinae) Stalked Jellyfish (Order: Stauromedusae)

Highest numbers of Stalked Jellyfish this year!!!

Ramsgate Eastcliff Invasive Pacific Oyster (Magallana gigas)

Wireweed (Sargassum muticum)

Brush-Clawed Shore Crab (Hemigrapsus takanoi) Reducing in number??

Common Starfish (Asterias rubens) Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis) These common creatures and seaweeds were found on every Bay

Shore crab (Carinus maenas) Edible crab (Cancer pagurus) Long-clawed porcelain crab (Pisidia longicornis)

Common Prawn (Palaemon serratus) Common brittle star (Ophiothrix fragilis) Beadlet anemone (Actinia equina) Common periwinkle (Littorina littorea)

Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) Beautiful eyelash (Genus:Calliblepharis) Common Limpet (Patella vulgate) Ragworm (Family: Nereididae) Chiton (Lepidochitona cinereal) Some creatures found on five or more Bays

Netted Dog Whelk ( reticulata) Broad-Clawed Porcelain Crab (Porcellana platycheles) Slipper Limpet (Crepidula fornicate) Shanny (Lipophrys pholis)

Finger Bryozoan (Phylum: Bryozoa) Sand Mason Worm (Lanice conchilega) Piddock (Family: Pholadidae) Dog Whelk (Nucella lapillus)

Barnacles (Infraclass: Cirripedia) (Superfamily: Paguroidea) Velvet Swimming Crab (Necora puber) Sea Spider (Order:Pantopoda)

Sea Mat (Phylum: Bryozoa) Green Sea Urchin (Psammechinus miliaris) Some rarer creatures found on 4 or less Bays

Scale Worm Strawberry Anemone (Actinia fragacea) Skate/ Ray egg case

Chameleon Prawn (Hippolyte varians) Common Whelk ( undatum) Catshark egg case

Flat Periwinkle (Littorina obtusata) Hairy Crab (Pilumnus hirtellus)

Oyster Drill (Urosalpinx cinereal) Five-bearded Rockling (Ciliata mustela)

Cockles/ Clams (Class: Bivalvia) Scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus)

Pennants Swimming Crab (Portumnus latipes) Common Spider Crab (Maja brachydactyla)

Thank you to Tony and Laura and all the volunteers who made this year another great success.

Special thanks to - Mandy Jarvis, Lester Hovenden, Thomas Kennedy, Natasha Wolfe and girls, Toby Humby and Ellie, Chris Fulcher and Gill, Julie Perrin and Ryan, Carole Yearsley, Tina Hubbard, Tony Sykes + grandsons, Emily Bolton, Laura Sawyer, Sam, Ellie & Greg Bessant.