Wildlife sightings 2007

Send in your reports and observations

Monday 5th November

Our 3 cuttlefish have now been released back to the sea. At a mere 2 inches long they are perfectly able to fend for themsleves and will feed on a variety of crabs and prawns. It was great to see them propell themsleves backwards, leaving a cloud of ink as they escaped from our clutches. And to think if we hadn't of rescued them from the dry shore line where they had washed up after the autumn storms, they would have surely died!

Friday 26th October

A visitor reported coming face-to-face with a seal on the boat slipway today! Not the sort of thing you expect to see that close. Without a confirmed identification, we would guess it was probably a grey seal as contrary to the name, common seals are no longer such! Solitary grey seals have been spotted within the reserve around the summer season probably loking for a suitable mate.

Saturday 22nd September

One of our more curious wardens managed to find a new sighting for Dorset - a crevice beetle, hidden away in the rocks. This minute insect is a mere 3mm in length and although terrestrial by nature, can survive upon the mid shore zone subjected to high tide periods, by inhabiting an tiny air pocket!

Thursday 6th September

Marine wardens at Kimmeridge were called out today to identify a dolphin following the MoD Range Boat in the Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve. The solitary bottlenose dolphin, measuring over 10ft in length, was identified as 'George'; the dolphin that hit the headlines a few years ago for frequenting some of Dorset’s most popular beaches.

However friendly they may appear, dolphins are large and powerful wild animals and should not be approached in the water. Dolphins are protected by law making it illegal for boats to approach them. Boat users spotting a dolphin should immediately switch off their engine and allow the animal to approach them. Three 3 boats around a dolphin can seriously harrass the mammal. Please watch from afar.

The UK is lucky enough to have such amazing animals in it's waters. It’s a shame that, all too often, dolphins wash up dead, killed in pair trawler nets, used to catch sea bass. It is hoped that the government sees through its commitment to a new Marine Bill which will bring in greater protection for marine wildlife.

The Wildlife Trusts are currently running a national Petition Fish campaign to lobby the Government to renew their commitment to our seas by including the Marine Bill in the Queen’s Speech in November. Signatures are being collected in the marine centre or online at http://www.wildlifetrusts.org.

Saturday 4th August

Many rockpoolers this time of year are becoming stung by our native Snakelocks anemone. This beautiful animal is a close relative of the jellyfish - similar in using it’s stinging tentacles to paralyse prey. It comes in a variety of colours ranging from pale pink to green with purple tips and the tentacles do not retract at low tide. Fortunately for us, this camoflauged creature is too small to cause any damage like this in humans but it can sting! If a reaction does develop it looks similar to a stinging nettle rash – red and raised with a tingling sensation. Remember these simple guidelines for first aid:-

Monday 16th July

One of our wardens (who is articularly good at finding small and often overlooked species), managed to find another new species at Kimmeridge. The beautiful, yet small crab Pirimela denticulata is by far one of the most colourful crabs seen here! With a maximum carapace (shell) length of 25mm it's another tiny crab often buried into sandy sediment on the seabed upon the lower shore down to depths of 40m!.

Monday 30th June

On a recent shore dive in Kimmeridge Bay, wardens looked around the busiest locations for an area to place the underwater camera for the summer season ahead. They finally settled for a corkwing wrasse nest bursting with coralline and magic seaweed decoration frequented by the loving male advertising for his mate.

The enjoyable dive was enhanced by great visibility and a number of sightings of regular inhabitants. A large common lobster was spotted peering out of its crevice adorning its mighty claws and also a solitary cuttlefish. Common lobsters can inhabit shallow coastal waters and depths up to 60m. 

Fan worms were also spotted under a shaded overhang with their feathery legs extended in two interlocking whorls, fishing for floating food. When predators loom the fan worm quickly retreats inside its muddy tube for protection.

The underwater camera projects live images into the marine centre but is only out during fair sea conditions.

Monday 14th May 2007

A number of Whimbrels have been seen both here in the Bay and at Charnel. In the UK, this species only breeds in north Scotland. It is a passage migrant to other areas in spring and autumn on its way from and to its wintering areas in South Africa. On passage they eat crabs, shrimps, molluscs, worms.

Two cuttlefish were seen in Kimmeridge Bay recently. One was very large, at approximately 18 inches, spotted just off the slipway.

Tuesday 2nd May

Divers have reported cuttlefish, a cousin of the octopus, in the Bay, one of which was very large - a whopping 18inches long! The pair were in courtship; a common activity this time of year. Look out for the black 'sea grapes' appearing on crab pots and other objects if you dive.

Opossom shrimps were reported in large clusters. The alterative name for these small and slender shrimps is the name mysid shrimps of which there are 40 European species!

Two spot gobies, velvet swimming crabs and edible crabs were also spotted.

Thursday 26th April

Toothed topshells, one of our less commmon sea snails within the area have been spotted in a few new locations recently in addition to those found on 10th March (see below). These molluscs have been the topic of much study since 1960's and the cause of excitement regarding recent sightings within marine biologists.

A large abundance of small periwinkles have also been recorded within the reserve. These tiny brown sea snails reach a shell length of 9mm and inhabit a more terrestrial lifestyle at the top of the shore. To see them it is often necessary to get onto hands and knees as they are easy to overlook. Try looking in empty barnacle shells.

Tuesday 10th April

Divers reported seeing lots of edible crabs, a spiny spider crab, ywo large clumps of squid eggs and a live mermaids purse (juvenile shark or ray still feeding on yolk sac), in Kimmeridge Bay.

A warden found a very tiny growth of peacock's tail; a brown seaweed which resembles turkey feathers or some might say, toe nail clippings within the bay. Peacock's tail is a climate change indicator species and is closely monitored for changes in it's location and abundance. There are a number of these indicator species within the Reserve.

Tuesday 20th March 2007

Equinox spring tides allowed for a fantastic rockpooling session within the Reserve. Common Sea Slugs, Porcelain crabs, Pisa Crabs, Edible crabs, Shore Crabs, Snakelocks Anemones, Beadlet Anemones, Gem Anemones and Star Sea Squirts to name but a few were found on the underside of rocks, within the Bay.

Common Sea Slugs are normally grey to purplish brown in colour and can grow to a length of 12cm. They are a clever predator in that they feed on anemones and arm themselves with the stinging cells of their food to gain further protection from predators. There are 14 different species of sea slugs or nudibranches in Europe.

Monday 12th March 2007

Over the last few weeks we have been busy recording and attending a number of local dolphin strandings. Unfortunately, all were dead.

All of the strandings have been Common Dolphins and mostly found within the Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve. Two additional sightings were reported at Chesil and Southbourne and included a juvenile male.

It is estimated that only 10% of dolphins and porpoises carcasses are washed up, so 90% goes unseen! Many are killed within the commercial fishing industry. Common Dolphins are most susceptible to pair-trawling, where a huge net is towed between two boats. Evidence of this activity can be identified upon the body.


Saturday 10th March 2007

A large number of Toothed Topshells were found within the Reserve; a new location for these uncommon molluscs. As the name suggests, these sea snails possess a small tooth on the opening of the shell surrounding the animal. But don't get them confused with Purple Topshells which are the proud owners of a tiny belly button on their underside!

Currently we are only aware of 2 Toothed Topshells within Kimmeridge. If you spot any more please let us know! Otherwise please watch where you walk!

Wednesday 14th February 2007

Love is in the air!

Big clumps of cream coloured bubbly balls are beginning to turn up upon the shore. They look quite unusual but they are actually the empty egg cases of the Common Whelk; one of the UK's largest sea snail.

The Whelk with a shell length of 11cm is a 'seabed cleaner' and feeds on dead matter, bivalves and worms. From autumn to spring they lay thousands of eggs and within each of the small capsules are 10 embryos. The most dominant of these embryos feeds on the other nine before hatching out after two months as a tiny juvenile and living for up to ten years. Lovely! See if you can spot our Common Whelks in the tank at the marine centre.

Marine Sponges
Many years ago 'sea wash balls' were unknown to be the empty egg cases of the Whelk and used by fishermen in the bath (hence the name)! Natural sponges are still sadly sold today but not picked from the strandline as they once were years ago! Natural sponges are actually a colony of animals living together and are very slow growers. Removal from coral reefs for cosmetic use in plays a huge impact within the food chain and due to the slow growth rate does not allow for re-colonisation. Therefore the use of natural sponges is not sustainable. Please check your sponges are man made to preserve these beautiful marine species!

Monday 8th January 2007

Two Columbus crabs have now been found within the Reserve! (See Tuesday 12th December 2006 for further details). Never before have these non-native species been recorded in Dorset let alone locally on our doorstep! There have been a few sightings now around the south west coast and we have been lucky enough to house the few that we found alive, which appear to be doing very well! When you consider these 2cm wide crabs have travelled in surface waters from the Sargasso Sea off Florida, to be bashed ashore by stormy weather it is truly amazing that they have survived. Pop into the marine centre to see them. Who knows, you may never get the opportunity to see them this close up!

Friday 5th January 2007

Last December, a fisherman found three mermaids purses entwined in his nets and brought them into us at the marine centre. We had a lovely Christmas present when we discovered one of the three juvenile common dogfish had hatched! Just after Christmas, the second one hatched, soon to be followed by the third.

Common in shallow waters off all British coasts, common dogfish or lesser-spotted dogfish are actually from the shark family. Egg laying occurs November - July within shallow, rocky areas and the four curly tendrils upon each egg, are used to attach the sac to seaweeds for stability. During the 8-9 month gestation, the tiny shark feeds upon its egg sac until breaking out. Once hatched the juvenile reaches a mere 10cm in length and when hungry, hunts for small crabs, shrimps and worms upon the seabed.