Hemsby, Norfolk September 2012

Rock pooling destination: Hemsby, Norfolk, September  2012

The stretch of beach at Hemsby alternates between swathes of sand and shingle.  It has a gently sloping profile. When the tide is in, currents run across the beach, forming shingle berms.

The shore is barren of life due to the mobile nature of the sediments and its inability to hold water within the interstitial spaces of the pebbles whilst the tide is out.

Insects such as flies and beetles occur amongst the upper shore and organisms are found washed up amongst the strandline.

On this occasion strong weather had washed up many empty razor shells, shore crabs and rhodophyta marine algae, amongst which could be found small gastropods.

The habitats present come under two classifications: LS.LSa (Littoral Sand) and LS.LCS.sh.BarSh (Barren littoral shingle).  

Below are photographs of some of the organisms encountered whilst rock pooling in this habitat.

Habitat Classification: LS.LSa (Littoral Sand).

When the tide is in, currents run across the beach, forming shingle berms. Habitat Classification: LS.LCS.sh.BarSh (Barren littoral shingle). 

Razor shells washed up on the strand-line.



Shore crab (Carcinus maenas) washed up on the shore.

Razor shells washed up on the strand-line.

Red seaweeds (Rhodophyta) washed up from cobbles off shore.