VOL.35 NO.2 OCTOBER 2OO5 - British Shell Collectors' Club

Page 12 PALLIDULA
on the main beach in large numbers but is hard to find in good condition. All in all I collected 34
species on the central beach.
After a break for tea I spent the rest of the day searching the rock pools and the large rocks near the
sea. In the pools I found many Nucella lapillus, some very large, along with a number of nice micro
shells (none of which I can identify, help required), one with black vertical lines and very pretty; also in
the pools were Trivia monacha again in large numbers. My next find were some large Littorina
littorea, these shells are always small where they are collected in large numbers for food. On the
large rocks were some lovely forms of Littorina saxatilis, many with bands and some nice orange
forms. Also on the rocks were many forms of Littorina littoralis including orange and green with
banded forms being less common. Monodonta lineata were in hundreds on the rocks, all large and in
good condition.
Having spent two days on Shell Island it was time for me to return home with many shells for my
collection.
Useful contacts are:- Shell island information centre – tel. 01341-241453 or www.shellisland.co.uk.
Tide charts are available at Barmouth Angling Shop or ask at Shell Island main entrance for latest
leaving times in the evening. Opening times are March 1st until November 30 th . One can camp on
the island and food is available in the island shop and café. Best collecting times are March and April,
avoid summer months, then again in October and November.
Many thanks to Carl Ruscoe for help with collecting sites on the island. The main beach is very rocky
at the sea edge and good strong waterproof shoes are required to explore the rock pools and a hat to
avoid sunburn. With Harlech Castle in the distance and views of Lleyn Penninsular, Shell Island is a
wonderful place to visit either camping or staying at Barmouth just ten minutes away.
Below is a photograph of some of the specimens collected on Shell Island.
1. Natica catena (da Costa, 1778)
2. Gari fervensis (Gmelin, 1791)
3. Aporrhaispes-pelecani (L., 1758)
4. Chlamys opercularis (L, 1758)
5. Turritella communis Risso,1826
6. Trivia monacha (da Costa,1778)
7. Clathrus clathrus (L., 1758)
8. Donax vittatus (da Costa, 1778)
9. Cardium echinatum (L., 1758)
10. Dosinia exoleta (L., 1758)
11. Tellina fabula - red Gmelin, 1791
12. Acteon tornatilis (L., 1758)