Mud, mud, glorious mud!

Byjeff

19th January 2008

The hidden world of our Helford creeks was revealed to a large gathering by the well-known marine broadcaster and retired lecturer of the University of Exeter, Dr Tegwyn Harris.

We were reminded that bacteria, slimy green weed, worms and numerous shrimp-like creatures are the basis of the whole chain of life within the Helford River environment but are so easily forgotten as we wade through the slippery mud.

Birds and fish are more familiar as they are easily seen, but Tegwyn pictured the smaller organisms in a fast moving presentation accompanied by his particular brand of amusing stories.

Similar Posts

  • Seacore Ltd – from Gweek Quay to Far-off Seas

    Byjeff

    Thursday 29th January 2009

    The boardroom at Fugro Seacore in Falmouth was packed as 40 members squeezed in to hear John Gleadowe’s re-scheduled talk. Seacore began in 1976 as the concept of two CSM mining engineers to develop underwater drilling equipment for tin exploration off the north Cornish coast. A prototype was tested in a creek in Zambia.

  • Tales of a Wildlife Photographer (David Chapman)

    Byjeff

    Saturday, 11th December 2010

    Is that a pin-tailed duck? No, it’s a long-tailed duck. Isn’t that a gannet? No, it’s a black-tailed godwit. We were trying to identify birds on David Chapman’s jumper, knitted by his mother who had produced separate jerseys for different talks. His outdoor gear depended on conditions, one photograph showing military-style camouflaged top and trousers, plus a back-pack to carry a tripod, camera and lenses and a chest-pack containing a portable hide. When erected, the last looked like a camouflaged igloo, just large enough to accommodate David and Adrian Langdon for several hours bird watching at the Walmsley Reserve. His account of that outing was returned by Adrian with the comment that the phrase “the mud came nearly to the top of our wellies” had a typographical error in the final word!

  • Dawn Chorus Beside Polwheveral Creek

    Byjeff

    22 April 2007
    An early start did not deter an eager band of some 28 people armed with binoculars converging on Goongillings Farm where a delicate grey mist swirled amongst the trees edging the creek. The expertise of Martin Rule, the group leader was much appreciated in recognising the songs of the unseen vocalists. Charles and Barbara Pugh rounded a very successful expedition with hot drinks and refreshments amid requests for an even earlier start next year!!

  • Helford Conservation Cruise

    Byjeff

    Sunday, 11th July 2010

    Once again, the weather was kind, producing a warm, dry and wind-free day. With 95 passengers on board, plus tanks containing a variety of live fish, crabs and other creatures, the Enterprise boat headed to the mouth of the estuary and around into Gillan Creek, in sight of St Anthony church. The National Trust owns two small properties on the south bank, one containing Bronze Age barrows and an Iron Age cliff castle. Looking seaward there was a clear view of Nare Point and its observation post, now occupied by Coastwatch, but, during WWII, part of a testing range for air-drop torpedoes.

  • Non-native Marine Invasive Species (Guy Baker)

    Byjeff

    Saturday, 26th February 2011
    “You should clean your bottom every year”! Australians and New Zealanders are known for plain speaking, but this seemed unnecessarily rude. However, just to clarify, they were talking in this instance about the hull of your boat. The point was quickly driven home by an underwater film, taken in N.France, which showed a hull so thickly coated with weeds and invertebrates that it looked like a sagging roll of shaggy carpet. Boat fouling is a worldwide problem and marinas and harbours are important staging posts in the process, because hulls, piers and jetties provide numerous firm surfaces on which sessile plants and animals can gain a foothold.