Velella now stranded in huge numbers at Talland Bay, Hannafore Point, and East
Looe, and are becoming something of a local tourist attraction!
Jon.
----- Original Message -----
From: Jon Makeham
To: CornishWildlife@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2003 3:50 PM
Subject: [CornishWildlife] Velella
 

Today, mass invasion has reached Polperro. On small beach here millions
stranded (this is not an exaggeration - counting estimate using a quadrat
suggests 5-8000 per square meter.) All are similar size, around 1.5cm in
length, and still have fleshy body parts attached. I have seen strandings of
these animals in SE Cornwall before, but usually of adult specimens (7-10cm),
and in much smaller numbers. Will investigate nearby larger beaches.
Jon.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CornishWildlife/messagesearch?query=Velella

- and doubtless many more to be reported. Records will be added to the
Strandings Database, together with wind direction which largely dictates where
they strand. I will also send the observations to the Cornish Wildlife
e-group.. Violet Sea Snarls may also be present, as they feed on Velella, and
Buoy Barnacles are also often seen at the same time - so please look for these..

Ray Lawman has reported to Ruth Williams that he there were "approximately
500,000" (half a million in case you think I have mis-quoted his '0s) at
"Soapy Cove" on the Lizard on 21 May.

David Muirhead sailed through a large fleet of them on the SE side of Fal Bay
yesterday (28 May). He said they were being tossed around and he wondered if
they could capsize.

Michael Ennis reported a number at Nansudwell ,also on 28 May.

Stella
 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
 

----- Original Message -----
From: Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust - David Mawer
To: Stella Turk
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2003 1:48 PM
Subject: By-the-wind-sailors
 

I thought that you might be interested - we have thousands of tiny
By-the-wind-sailors coming ashore. Porthlow on St. Mary's (Porthloo on maps)
was covered with them yesterday, most only about 10mm in length with only the
occasional larger one, and the larger ones were very large at approx. 50mm,
with none in-between. I don't think I have seen them either as big or as small
before.

Regards

Dave