Nature

On the Thornham shore this morning

August 10, 2026

Gita Bapat

1 minute read

Field Notes
No. 01

Poor little crab 10 August 2026

I think this is an example of Pennant's Swimming Crab *Portumnus latipes*

At a glance

SpeciesPennant's Swimming Crab

Latin namePortumnus latipes

FamilyCarcinidae

SizeCarapace up to 20mm across

HabitatBurrows in wet sand on sheltered sandy beaches, especially at low tide

Key facts

Also known as the Slender Swimcrab
Its back legs are flattened into paddles, an adaptation for swimming as well as burrowing
First formally described by naturalist Thomas Pennant in 1777, hence the common name

Member comments

A seasonal tide

Field Notes No. 08 Moon jelly 29th June 2026 At a glance SpeciesMoon Jellyfish Latin nameAurelia aurita FamilyUlmaridae SizeDiameter 5–40cm HabitatCoastal waters worldwide; the most common jellyfish in UK seas Key facts * Recognisable by four horseshoe-shaped gonads visible through the translucent bell * Its sting is too weak to

29 Aug 2026

Nature ⸱ Gita Bapat

Berry walk

Field Notes No. 07 Hawthorn, Dog rose, Elderberry, Bryony, Hops 26th August 2026 The end of summer is showing Nature's full abundance just in our local walk this morning. There are so many berries around that I wonder whether walkers are leaving them for the wild creatures who

26 Aug 2026

Nature ⸱ Gita Bapat

Side eye at Sheringham

Field Notes No. 07 Lesser Black-Backed Gull 23rd August 2026 At a glance SpeciesLesser Black-Backed Gull Latin nameLarus fuscus FamilyLaridae Size52–64cm, wingspan 135–150cm HabitatCoasts, estuaries, farmland, increasingly urban rooftops Key facts * Dark grey to black back distinguishes it from the paler Herring Gull * Yellow legs are

24 Aug 2026

On the Thornham shore this morning

Member comments

A seasonal tide

Berry walk

Side eye at Sheringham

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