The rocky shore is comprised of extensive shallow shelving bedrock with gullies, crevices and rockpools.
The uneven topography of the shore leads to a patchy distribution of habitats, experiencing a range of exposures.
Lichen communities characterise the supralittoral and littoral fringe rock, below which barnacle communities and rockpools occur and finally a mosaic habitat of fucoids and barnacles. The rockpools vary from hostile Ulva spp dominated pools of the littoral fringe, to coralline rockpools of the mid shore and deep fucoid filled rockpools of the lower shore.
Below are images of some of the organisms you may encounter whilst rockpooling within these habitats:
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| The rocky shore comprises shelving bedrock with gullies, crevices and rock pools. Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Lic.YG (Yellow and grey lichens on supralittoral rock) EUNIS: B3.111, LR.FLR.Lic.Ver (Verrucaria maura on littoral fringe rock) EUNIS: B3.113, and LR.HLR.MusB (Mussel and/or barnacle communities) EUNIS: A1.11. |
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| The variable topography of the bedrock has resulted in a patchy distribution of yellow and grey lichens on higher elevation rock and the black tar lichen (Verrucaria maura) below. Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Lic.YG (Yellow and grey lichens on supralittoral rock) EUNIS: B3.111 and LR.FLR.Lic.Ver (Verrucaria maura on littoral fringe rock) EUNIS: B3.113. |
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| At this altitude on the shore fluctuating temperatures and salinity lead to prolific growth of Ulva spp (formally Entomorpha spp) in some of the rockpools. Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp.G (Green seaweeds (Entomorpha spp. and Cladophora spp.) in shallow upper shore rock pools) EUNIS: A1.421. |
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| Pelvetia canaliculata forms patches on the sheltered littoral fringe rock growing on top of Verrucaria spp. Habitat classification: LR.LLR.F.Pel (Pelvetia canaliculata on sheltered littoral fringe rock) EUNIS: A1.311. |
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| Rough periwinkles (Littorina spp) and young growth of Pelvetia canaliculata. |
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| A Rough periwinkle (Littorina spp) |
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| A Rough periwinkle (Littorina spp) |
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| Occasional limpets (Patella vulgata) and lichens (Verrucaria spp) mark the transition between the littoral fringe and upper shore habitats. |
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| The large but relatively shallow coralline rockpools of the shore support a variety of seaweeds and fauna that differs from the surrounding rock communities. Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp.Cor (Coralline crust dominated shallow eulittoral rockpools) EUNIS: A1.411. |
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| Ulva spp within a coralline rockpool. |
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| Cladophora spp within a coralline rockpool. |
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| Edible periwinkles (Littorina littoria) within a coralline rockpool. |
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| Edible periwinkles (Littorina littoria), China limpet (Patella ulyssiponensis), corallinaceae crusts and Cladophora spp within a coralline rockpool. |
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| Prolific growth of ephemeral greens in summer has swamped this coralline rockpool. |
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| Barnacles communities characterise large stretches of the upper and mid shore, with tufts of Lichina pygmaea on rock pinnacles and Fuus spiralis and limpets in the crevices below. Habitat classification: LR.HLR.MusB (Mussel and/or barnacle communities) EUNIS: A1.11. |
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Barnacles (Chthamalas montagui)
Barnacles (Semibalanus balanoides)
Glistening beadlet anemones (Actina equina) and small mussels (Mytilus edulis) can be found deep within the rock crevices. Surrounded by barnacles and limpets (Patella spp). |
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| Osmundea spp and Corallina spp occur in damp patches. |
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| A limpet (Patella depressa), Gibulla umbilicus, Osmundea spp and sparse barnacles. |
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| Flat periwinkle (Littorina obtusata) |
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| Flat periwinkle (Littorina obtusata) |
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| Fucus spiralis |
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| Beneath the Fucus spiralis is an under story comprised of red seaweeds and Cladophora rupestris. |
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| An epiphytic seaweeds grows on Fucus spiralis. |
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| Red seaweed abundance increases on the damp rock faces of the lower shore, these exposed specimens appear 'bleached' by the sun. |
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| Bleached Osmundea spp and Lomentaria articulata. |
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| Cladophora spp |
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| Egg wrack (Ascophyllum nodosum) and epiphytic Polysiphona lanosa. |
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| Polysiphona lanosa growing on Ascophyllum nodosum. |
Coralline rockpools lower on the shore support an increased diversity of seaweeds:
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| A china limpet (Patella ulyssiponensis) covered by Corallinaceae crust, young Fucus spp and filamentous algae. |
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| Filamentous Rhodophyta and spirorbidae polychaete worm tubes. |
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| Filamentous Rhodophyta |
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| Filamentous Chlorophyta |
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| Filamentous Chlorophyta |
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| Filamentous Rhodophyta and Gibbula umbilicus. |
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| Deeper rockpools of the lower shore support an increased quantity of brown seaweeds, including Fucoids, Sargassum muticum and Sea oak (Halidrys siliquosa). Habitat classification: LR.FLR.Rkp.FK (Fucoids and kelp in deep eulittoral rockpools) EUNIS: A1.412. |
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| Fucus serratus |
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| Sargassum muticum |
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| Sea oak (Halidrys siliquosa) |
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| The understory red seaweeds of the lower shore, retain their pigmentation. |
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| Gelidium spp |
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| Coralline algae and bread crumb sponge (Halichondria panicea) occur within a crevices surrounded by barnacles and limpets. |
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| Barnacles and small periwinkles (Melarhaphe neritoides). |
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| Barnacles and rough periwinkle (Littorina spp). |
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| Barnacles and rough periwinkle (Littorina spp). |
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| On the lower shore fucoids form a mosaic with barnacles and dog whelks: Habitat classification: LR.MLR.BF (Barnacles and fucoids on moderately exposed shores) EUNIS: A1.21. |
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| A ringed plover feeds on the shore.. |
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