ATLAS NATURALISTS MARINE FIELD DAY
‘offrandes de la mer’
(offerings of the sea)
Saturday 7th December
from 9:30 to around 3pm
Celebrate the arrival of Summer with a day at the beach. Join us as we explore the waters, rockpools and ocean shores around Bermagui. This is a day for everyone … including those keen to get their feet wet.
9:30 - 10:45am: Exploration of the Bruce Steer Pool – a sheltered, shallow enclosure just inside the river entrance. Wade around the edges and investigate marine life on the rocks and in the sandy shallow. Bring a face mask and venture into the deeper sections. Or stay dry and try some fish spotting from atop the breakwater.
11am – 2/3pm: ‘Keyholes, elephants and ramshorns’. We’ll meet Alan Scrymgeour at the Camel Rock carpark, just north of Bermagui and search the beach for marine offerings. As the tide drops we’ll head out onto the rock platforms, where the intertidal zone is at its richest. Afterwards, back on the beach, Alan will discuss what we’ve found … and probably uncover more than any of us even thought to look for!
Huge thanks to Alan Scrymgeour, Lyn Scrymgeour and Liz Allen for organising the day.
photo: Liz Allen
Where to meet: sign on at 9:30am at the Bruce Steer Pool, Bermagui. (Alternatively, join us for the beach ramble only – sign on at 11am at the Camel Rock carpark.)
What to bring:
enclosed footwear with a suitable soles (for walking on the jagged rocks of the rock platforms)
sunsmart clothing, including hat and long sleeves
lunch and drinking water
water shoes, such as beach sandals or booties (for wading in the shallows) - optional
swimming and snorkelling gear, if that is your thing - optional, of course
camera, with suitable protection from sand and water - optional
a garden sieve if you have one (to sort through the micro beach wash-up with Alan) - optional
and a friend - entirely optional, but no dogs please!
before or after: drop by the Bluepool. The Blue Pool at Bermagui is an ocean swimming pool famous for much more than swimming. It’s like an open air aquarium. Take a look from the sides or take a dip. It’s well worth it. (please note that this is an independent activity, outside the planned activities for the day)
The images above are just a small selection from our local records on NatureMapr … take an extended tour of marine invertebrates here
