Starfish rescue

The sea has had a heavy swell for a couple of days, and the strong currents have dislodged things from their places and thrown them onto the beach.

I found this starfish half hidden in the sand, and idly turned it over.


It's little legs were still moving, so I carried it to a rock pool. It didn't appear to move, but twenty minutes later it had found it's way from the center of the pool to the edge, hiding under a ledge as much as it was able.


Starfish have no eyes, so I wonder how it knew which way to go? Or was it just lucky?

Rock pools and seafood!

I was walking along Asling's beach, trying out my new camera phone and enjoying the rockpools, when along came Darren with a freshly caught crayfish. He had a couple of abalone too, but he complains that the legal bag limit of 2 is too restrictive, as that is not enough to make a curry for his family!

If you're not keen on braving the cold water like Darren but you still want some "bush tucker", you can always catch a few snails like the ones in the bottom photo. They have a flecked brown and cream coloured shell which is a bit smaller than a walnut. I haven't eaten them, but I know someone who has and she says they are good steamed.

How do you eat abalone? They are kind of rubbery and I haven't tried them myself, but I hear they are good pounded, coated in breadcrumbs and fried (like a schnitzel), or made into a curry.




See the snails in the bottom of the rock pool? Enough for dinner! Just joking, I like to leave the wildlife in peace.