Life in Rock Pools

In 2019 we were most impressed by the amount and diversity of marine life in the rock pools at Bastion Point.  This year there seems to less life both in quantity and diversity (and the 'mix' has changed).  We wonder if this is because of the amount of ash/charcoal washed around following the fire or some other reason.  Since the breakwater was constructed well before 2019 I don't think that is the answer,

Explanations welcome: we decided to try to assess and photograph what is present, and to think about what is missing (or present in additional numbers).  The 13th of December was a good day for this as the low tide was both very low (0.12m) and at a good time (1413 hrs).  I shall add names to the beasts etc as I discover them,

Before getting to the wildlife here is a work of man: an excellent set of new steps, so we don't have to dice with death walking down the footpath-free road.

A snip from Google Earth shows the two areas we snuffled around.

One of the extra life forms is the Sea Hares.  Not only are they around in large numbers but they are depositing egg masses under every rock ledge.  The blobs are all Sea Hares (looking a tad used as the water has receded leaving them in a dry situation).  It appears as though one of them is still emitting eggs (the yellow string).

A scuttling crab.

A Top Shell (I think).

I describe this as brown gooze.  I think it is some form of sponge but it could be algal.  This is the first time I have noticed it and it was present in large quantities close to the water between the breakwater and the Point

Throughout the area was large areas covered by this green seaweed.

There was also the usual brown laminate kelp, but that was lower down and only exposed because of the low tide.

A few standard limpets were around but no Shield Limpets.

A few Chitons, not no really big ones,  They seemed lower in numbers than we have found in the past,

Mussels were present and they seemed low in numbers (especially compared to the masses found at Betka and Quarry Beach).  This clump also seemed larger than usual.

Barnacles were evident.

The most excitement was an octopus spotted lurking under a rock ledge.

It eventually emerged and was photographed

I was initially disappointed with the image but on looking more closely I have got a fair few features of the animal which I have labelled in this version.

At one point it revealed its underside which was quite colourful, but I didn't manage to photograph that!  From memory I would assess the size of the body as about 10cm diameter.

Near the Point a large pool had a few cooperative fish.  Some were about 10cm in length ...

.. while others were much smaller.

There were a few sea anemones around, mainly of the purple blob style and all drawn in due to the low tide.

One of the Eastern Reef Egrets obliged with its presence.