The realm beneath

Spring tides and the waters roll back to reveal  the cantre gwaelod  (sunken land) of Welsh mythology, which for me is the endlessly fascinating shore line with its myriad forms of underwater life.

Where to start? There's so much to see. 
Here's just a sample of natural marks.  In the centre the ridge-and-link  pattern created by tide flow across wet sand, on the left the embossed chalk tunnels made by tube worms,  and on the right trails left by limpets as they pursue their nightly algae forage and  return to base.


I'm always puzzled that so few people seem to share my passion for this netherworld. Once,  the beach would have a been an area of intense activity with boats to be pushed out and hauled in, cockles, mussels  and prawns to be collected,  and all hands to the fish trap* when the tide brought in a shoal. It's very quiet now apart from a few dog walkers and the occasional forager.
 Even the razor clams seem to have done a bunk.