Beaches and Rock Pools

The beaches and rock pools at Talland Bay are the ideal location for a family day at the beach. The beach is less biodiverse than other areas along the coast mainly due to them being in constant use. However, there are still species to be found if you know where to look for them. For instance the sands themselves can be the perfect habitat for sandworms which are food for many of the birds nesting in the nearby cliffs.

Also the most diverse area of the beach is the cliffs and their associated rock pools. Along the bottom of the cliffs you will find hundreds of acorn barnacles clinging to the rocks. Also, most of the bottoms of the rocks are covered in black tar lichen and other lichen and moss species. These lichens are a popular food source for many marine species.

Other species which may be found in this area include:

• Limpets
• The flat or purple topshell
• The rough periwinkle
• The tower shell
• Dogwhelks
• Mussels

However, by far the most abundant area of any shoreline are the rock pools which are situated along the middle and lower shores. Species to look out for when exploring rock pools are:

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