July 5 2006. The predicted tide at 1.8 m above mean sea level was studied at Westcliff during a rare morning of showers this summer. Green algae defined the strandline, rather than brown algae as in April, and there were more numerous dead crabs stranded with it. Seven were counted as white juveniles with a ventral-up orientation and five were larger green specimens with a dorsal-up orientation, of the same species Carcinus maenus L. Their legs were still present and there was no obvious cause of death, but they were not just molted carapaces. Mytilus or mussel shells were present on the strandline as clean single valves, but an oyster shell had evidently arrived with the muscle still holding the valves together in an otherwise empty shell cavity. The two valves must have then become separated by the breaking waves, being found three metres apart and then fitted back together. Most of the surfaces of both valves were encrusted with long-dead barnacles lacking their central plates. But since the winter a clean new layer of marginal growth of the oyster had been disfigured by tiny spots consisting of nearly microscopic new and intact barnacles. Gull feathers, a few twigs, a wine cork and a pinecone with algae and a flint trapped in it were the only other stranded objects seen in a quick 1 km survey of the new strandline.
Since it was found the pinecone, probably Pinus nigra Arnold from Westcliff seafront gardens, was studied with other in warm sea water and dry sunny weather. When found it looked remarkably dry despite having a position on the latest strandline, collected in damp weather. The scales firmly held a white angular flint of orthogonal dimensions 9.1 by 8.0 by 7.1 mm which had not come from the same strandline.
July 20 2006. Another Westcliff beach survey, was done over a shorter interval of 0.7 km was done on the strandline produced by the predicted tide at 2.1 m above mean sea level (9am B.S.T. studied two hours later during a day of record high temperatures, which were less extreme by a still cool sea). Green algae again dominated the strandline showing a single large Common jellyfish and an intact but spineless regular echinoid (31.8 mm diameter, 23.5 mm high with less green side less convex). Crabs were present and were larger than on July 5 and there were also two pathetic stranded gulls, with enough vitality to turn their heads and body axes parallel to and just below the line of algae. Stranded dying gulls can also be seen in winter but are not often noted and they suggest that some environmental change has taken place in the warm weather.
July 27 2006. The two large pinecones floated in seawater and described on April 7 are still floating after 111 days but smaller cones sink faster in the same tanks. For example the cone with a flint in it was dried in the present warm and dry weather on July 17 at a length of 59.4 mm and a maximum diameter of 54.9 by 57.9 mm. The flint was placed on the upper surface and was firmly held by the contraction of the scales between 10 and 20 minutes later. Full contraction of the scales, to a stable diameter away from the flint obstructing the scales of 31.9 mm, took three and a half hours. Further waterlogging sank and cone plus flint after only about 9.7 days. The diameters of 29.6 mm by 31.3 mm away from the flint corresponded to a wet length of 6.48 mm. It was then place outside in the sun at 8.10 hrs B.S.T. on July 26. The scales opened enough to release the flint (54.1 by 50.8 mm) at 14.30 hours today.
