Morecambe Bay’s Cockles

‘From Silverdale to Kent sand side,    Whose soil is sown with cockle shells’From Cartmel eke, and Connyside,    With fellows fierce from Furness fells’ The expansive sands of Morecambe Bay cover over 120 square miles and from their muddy creeks and channels, where flounder abound, to the sandy, silty flats where fields of shellfish can beContinue reading “Morecambe Bay’s Cockles”

The Bold Otter

Otters, Lutra lutra, are making a big comeback in the Northwest, being seen more and more on rivers, streams and ponds where they haven’t been seen for generations. Previously only spotted on our main rivers like the Ribble and Wyre numbers seem to have climbed recently and this is a good sign that they findContinue reading “The Bold Otter”

The Salmon Run

At the moment you might be lucky enough to see Salmon running on the streams and rivers of the Northwest as they make their arduous and risky journey upstream to their spawning grounds. Where to watch Weirs such as at those at Abbeystead and Waddow hall near Clitheroe and waterfalls such as Stainforth where theyContinue reading “The Salmon Run”

Northern Shores: Compass Jellyfish

The scientific name of the Compass jellyfish is Chrysaora hysoscella, Chrysaor being the son of the Sea God Poseidon and Snake-headed Gorgon Medusa. This is very apt as being a true member of the jellyfish family they follow the typical ‘medusae’ body-plan when in their adult stage, with a round bell-shaped body below which longContinue reading “Northern Shores: Compass Jellyfish”