Z is
for Zones - Tidal Zones and where we clamber away into May and out of April’s A
– Z ...
 |
| A rock at low tide, exhibiting intertidal zonation - Kalaloch, Washington USA |
Z is
for the foreshore Zones we find at the seaside ... some obvious, some not so
apparent ... they range from ...
 |
| Eastbourne beach zonation clearly shown ... with me standing on a bench! This is taken from Helen's Gardens higher up the cliffs, and west along the Promenade - Beachy Head is, to the west, behind me |
... the
splash or spray zone i.e. just above the high tide mark: land plants and
animals that are adapted to salty conditions live here.
 |
| Eastbourne beach with pier ... the spring water still flows from below the shingle, banked up and kept in place by the groynes |
... lichens,
which are fungi and algae growing in symbiotic partnership, are found here ...
 |
| Seaweeds growing on the groynes - at this point they are about 8 feet above the beach, and would be covered by the high tide ... Bladder wrack - mature - with swollen tips; and green spongomorpha - this is the common breadcrumb sponge, found in shady gulleys and under boulders on the lower shore, or as here growing on the groynes |
The
strandline (ordinary high water mark), typically composed of debris, is an
important habitat for a variety of animals ...
 |
| Limpets cling in the corner of the groyne and its upright |
... sandhoppers and seaweed fly are abundant on rotting seaweed, and these invertebrates provide food for shore birds, such as the rock pipit, turnstone and pied wagtail ... as well as small mammals ...
 |
| The Groynes and its cross strut, kept in situ with large pebbles and stone |
The
lower limit of the splash zone is generally marked by barnacles ... the first
truly marine creatures ...
 |
| The final run of groynes sunk nearly at low water mark |
The
inter-tidal zone (between the tides), which is regularly covered and uncovered
by seawater.
 |
| Barnacles and borers near the low tide mark - they are embedded or have bored into the rocks |
It
extends from the barnacles down through the wrack seaweeds, to the low-tide
area, where large kelp seaweeds begin to take over.
 |
| The rocky foreshore at a lowish tide |
The
third broad band is the sub-tidal (below the tides) zone, stretching from the
kelp fringe into the permanent shallows.
 |
| A Ruddy Turnstone from Wiki |
That is Z for Zones ... from a zoned out A-Zedder, who has a seized Z drive, more commonly known as a C drive, and is ztruggling to zip her way around the blogozphere ... that is Z for the final day of the Aspects of British Coasts in 2014 ...
 |
| Some of the shingle, brought in by man to shore up our beach front, and help keep the town safe from storms; with the pier and hardly visible across Pevensey Bay is Hastings |
By the photos ... you'll see I went to Eastbourne sea front last night ... and what did I see but the intertidal zone!!
Surprised me too ... so hence lots of iphone photos ... to finally see Z out
PS I'm not ignoring you ... just struggling with technology .. but I zill be around and zee you all zoon .....
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
65 comments:
Your evening stroll must have been beautiful and the sun also tagged along. I love the shadows
i understand what you say about struggling with technology
Helen
Wow !...beautiful pics ...and I am glad I could meet you through the A-Z challenge !
happy blogging for the rest of the year Hilary ....!
Hi Hilary,
Good quality pictures on your iphone, mine are never very good.
You must be zoned-out, especially with the technical problems. Your posts have been astounding, as usual.
You did it - and all that work!
Congratulations.
I'll be visiting again.
I think my favorite of these is the inter-tidal zone :)
Hi Hilary! Your pictures look great and this was another interesting post for the end of the challenge. Great job!
LittleCely's Blog
As always, your theme has been wonderfully educating. Congratulations on finishing another challenge! What a lovely bird is the Ruddy Turnstone.
It's amazing where the wildlife grows. Sometimes it's fascinating to see, and sometimes it startles you (or me anyway). :)
Big breath.We did it! But, as my (in)famous landsman says: "I'll be back."
Since I'm not close to the ocean, tidal waves intrigue me.
Great theme, Hillary. So glad I got to read your posts. And Congrats on finishing!
Another fascinating post Hilary, thank you. Glad you made it through despite your computer problems. Some people had to deal with health problems too.
Congratulations! Wonderful series, and lovely photos to go with your last post. I love the intertidal zone, that's where I find most of my really great shells. At least that's how it works on the beach of the Atlantic Ocean ;-)
Thanks for being my amazing and wonderful minion! Job well done.
I wish you the best with the technology issues, egads those drive me crazy!
Take care dearest of friends!
Tina @ Life is Good
A to Z Team @ Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2014
Congratulations on your blog, Hilary! It was amazing, as usual.
Love the photos! What great timing you had.
Another wonderful Challenge from you, Hilary. Well done.
I applaud your theme and your zeal in the final Z for taking all those marvelous pictures. Seaweed and rust and salt and that smell of the sea that gets in one's hair. You created a masterpiece. I'll drink to that!
Great pictures! Nature is so amazing. We tend to forget that, getting so caught up in technology and all. (See how I brought that together?)
How beautiful. I would have totally snapped just as many pictures, and I'm glad you did. Nature is amazing.
True Heroes from A to Z
One of my fave subjects, the beaches and coastal zones. Great info here, Hilary. I could walk by the sea all day, and never tire of it.
Loved your series, as I always do, and I keep learning more about the UK! Hope that tech gets put in its place, soon. I had my turn back in Feb this year when my laptop died. Good luck!
Love the pictures! I've been to Eastbourne (been 20+ years ago, though). That seaweed is lovely...not so pretty here.
Congratulations on finishing!
Those walls of seaweed are really cool.
Congratulations on completing the Challenge.
Lovely Zones and photos, thank you, Hilary. Well done for completing the A-Z Challenge! I've really enjoyed visiting your blog throughout April and I've learned something new every day :)
Your last but not least post, Hilary! This has been wonderful and I've learned so much, but then I always do when I stop by.
A brilliant end to a brilliant Challenge, Hilary. Never a dull moment for any letter. Well dome!
As much time as I spent on the ocean or the beach, I didn't know all this. You have taken so much time to research your coastal waters and shorelines. Very interesting A to Z, thank you so much.
As much time as I spent on the ocean or the beach, I didn't know all this. You have taken so much time to research your coastal waters and shorelines. Very interesting A to Z, thank you so much.
Another very educational post, Hilary, and gorgeous photos. Barnacles look wicked so close up. :)
Congratulations on making it to the end, and thank you for all your comments, all the lovely words. It's always a pleasure to see your comments on my blog. See you again soon.
Congratulations Hilary, on finishing the #atozchallenge2014! We did it! I can't imagine the research you must do to have your blog so thorough and interesting. You know so much! I'll be seeing you around the blog-sphere I'm sure!
Congratulations on finishing the challenge, Hilary. Great photos.
Hawaii doesn't have high tides, something I just learned recently while researching for an article I'm writing. So I chose your very first picture to 'pin'. All the photos you display today are so well centered and colorful.
Thank you for visiting my blog site.
Ho'omaika'i for completing the AtoZChallenge; and Happy "May Day is Lei Day" Hawaii tomorrow!
Gail visiting for AtoZ
Hilary, Congrats! Really enjoyed your posts: Very informative with beautiful pictures to go with it.
I know you visited my blog and read some of the stories. I would appreciate it if you would take a few moments to vote for your favorite ones.
http://peeekaaabooo.blogspot.com/2014/04/a-z-challenge-wrap-up.html
Suddenly I'm missing my roots strolling along the shores of Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest. Reading about seaweed, kelp, barnacles and tides really takes me back. Hurray for finishing the a-z! Your walks and observations have been a delight, Hilary.
Sharon @ Shells–Tales–Sails
Thank you for enlightening me about all things coastal, as a resident of the British Isles, I have learned things about our coasts and waters I did not know and some of your photos have been beautiful too :)
Happy A to Z and congrats for getting all the way to Z :)
Sophie
Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles - A to Z Ghosts
Fantasy Boys XXX - A to Z Drabblerotic
Congrats on the completion of A to Z.
So well done :)
I have learned so much and have loved all the great photos you shared.
Thanks Hilary.
I was quite taken by 1,600 year old YEW tree. Have they made a come back or did all disappear into bows?
I like the variety of beaches in the British Isles. There seems to be every kind -- from rocks, sand, pebbles...you name and you find somewhere in the many miles of beach land.
The yellow poppy is pretty, but I assume you don't touch it.
I hope you get all your computer problems ironed out soon, but at least the A-Z is almost finished. You've done a marvelous with this challenge:~)
Oops, you're going to comments to this post as I'm looking at my comment for Y post above me. My bad!!
I can't believe how tall the Strandline is. OMG 8 feet!!! That's tall.
It must be fun to see the tide come in as long as you're above the Strandline:~)
I will look forward to zeeing you soon and hope the technology cooperates with you!
It's so cool to see all the different zones. I love the picture of the rock with all the different levels on it. Happy end of challenge!
hi grandblogmum!
hooray! you made it all the way from A to Z. and you did it with really interesting posts. for sure i learned lots about the British coasts. ita cool that you used some of your own pictures.
thanks for being such a good teacher.
...hugs from lenny
Congrats several times over, Hilary. What a wonderful achievement. So glad it's over!! Now you can get back to writing your lovely long rambly posts.
Denise
Great job. Hilary. I learned so much. I think I will take my place in the splash and the spray zone for a bit of time now....
I think it would be fun to explore tidal zones :)
WTG for finishing the challenge. I did enjoy the posts I read of yours; very interesting and I loved seeing your "neck of the woods" so to speak since I'll probalby never get there myself :)
betty
It's great learning from you, and I look forward to your future posts. congratulations on getting to the A to Z finish line--it's such a nice place to be, a good zone. :-)
Best,
Deb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com
That is a wonderful post - I love all the pictures. What a beautiful place! Looks like a very nice walk around there :)
Congratulations on completing the challenge. Tidal zones are fascinating too, I love the seaside.
Congratulations on crossing the A to Z finishing line, Hilary!
You had a wonderful theme.
Now I need to backtrack (at my leisure), to see all the posts I missed out on...
The pictures are amazing! Intertidal zones are kind of habitat, themselves :)
Fantastic Hilary - thank you! May you get back into the zone soon post A-Z with that computer drive, and find time to relax.
Congratulations on finishing! Your post have always been delightful and illuminating!
Garden of Eden Blog
Fantastic Hilary - thank you! May you get back into the zone soon post A-Z with that computer drive, and find time to relax.
Congratulations on finishing! Your post have always been delightful and illuminating!
Garden of Eden Blog
Love the visual juxtaposition of some of your zones. Congrats on completing the Challenge!
Hi Hilary,
A fitting ending to Zee alphabet challenge. You were most assuredly in Zee Zone with Zis one, dear Hilary.
The British coast, I love the most and I toast, not roast, your A to Zed, which, yes, fills me with dread.
Seriously, well done, dear Hilary.
Gary :)
Gorgeous pictures of the British coast. I can almost feel the cool air and the smell.
Congratulations on completing the challenge.
Hi Hilary,
Great photos as always :)
I am so happy we finished the challenge!
Nice meeting you and I will for sure keep coming back to your blog even after this A-Z blog hop.
Cheers,
Maria
@ Helen – lovely to meet up with you once again .. the stroll was amazing and it was latish ... and technology – hopefully I’ve found someone to help into the 2010s ...
@ Julekha – many thanks .. it’s been a pleasure seeing you here and I’m sure we’ll keep in touch ..
@ Fanny – the photos came out well ... I didn’t touch them up ... so I was very lucky ... I’m fine – I’m just grateful to have posted X, Y and Z ... without any major hiccups ... but I’ll be glad to be updated! And thanks so much re the compliment .. appreciate that ...
@ Keith – I’ve had my eyes opened with these posts and the information I’ve posted – the shore will never be quite the same ... now you’ll see some of our European shoreline, sometime ‘soon’ ...
@ Cely – thanks re the iphone shots .. they did come out well – I’m impressed myself! Delighted you enjoyed being here .. and so good to meet you ..
@ Bish – many thanks ... the theme has always been important to me – giving me an opportunity to learn too. Glad I put up the photo of the Ruddy Turnstone .. he’s pretty isn’t he?!
@ Rosie – exactly ... every nook and cranny is choc-a-block full of life ... it’s fascinating and surprising as you mention .. wonderful world we live in ...
@ Inge – exactly ... we’ve passed Zed for this one ... but the ‘Go’ is around the corner and we don’t stop ...
@ Teresa – so pleased I’ve brought the sea to a landlocked lady! It’s always lovely to see your comments and smiling face ...
@ Jo – many thanks re the computer problems ... and yes I know many have health problems ... I hope I’m empathetic when it’s necessary and appropriate ... I just felt I needed to mention I might be off-air as such ... so readers are forewarned I might take a while to catch up ... but thankfully Z was reached ...
@ Tina – it’s always good to have you here and to see you commenting so often – especially with all your co-hosting duties ... lots of those ... if I’ve helped then I’m glad ...
The intertidal zone is fantastic ... I think I might go to the beach at low tide more often now! I sure hope my technology woes are almost over ..
@ Natalie .. many thanks – appreciate your thought ..
@ Julie – someone mentioned the low low tide ... and this was a week later – so I was really pleased to see the beach was worth visiting for the intertidal zone and that the evening was lovely, so I could get pretty good shots, even with the iphone ..
@ Manzanita – thank you so much ... your comment pulls my heart-strings ...
@ Stephanie - delighted you enjoyed the photos .. and nature is extraordinary, which we do sadly forget rather more often than we should ...
... and ye s I like the tie in with my hassly technology – still I do look forward to being slightly more less dowdy!!! Clever tie in ...
@ Crystal – many thanks ... I’ll just have to go back and get some more .. but I’m amazed at how well they came out and reflected what I wanted to show ... nature as I showed here is quite extraordinary ...
@ DG – I think we all like the shore: beaches and sea ... very restful when it’s calm! And totally absorbing when it’s rough, but terrifying when it’s really stormy ..
Many thanks re my series and theme ... and glad I enlightened you re the UK ... and yes thanks for the techie support ... soon it and I will be better!
part 2 following ...
@ Elizabeth – did you get to Eastbourne ... I’d probably just arrived then ... at least you ‘know something of where I live’ ... that seaweed is alive and fresh as it’s often under the water ... Yes and I made Z ...
@ Alex – glad you enjoyed the photos of the groynes with their seaweed .. and thank you so much ..
@ Sharon – Z for zone was a good one for me ... and so pleased you enjoyed your visits ... and so pleased we’re blogging together ..
@ Lee – many thanks .. I’m just pleased that I can open your eyes to things that we sometimes forget about ... or simply have never seen ...
@ Bob – I’m glad I’ve made Z and it was easier than I thought, though lots of work – but that’s what makes it fun for me too ... and I learn ...
@ Inger – the coast and beach are extraordinary places .. in each country and around each new shoreline ... so much goes on ... I’m just so glad you’ve enjoyed visiting – because that’s what blogging’s about ...
@ Silvia – so pleased you enjoyed visiting ... and barnacles, limpets and mussels are all amazing creatures. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting you too and learning about Romania ... see you shortly ...
@ Lisa – loved your French tour ... and we did it ... I really don’t know much – but I’ve learnt so much as I blog ...and I’ll be seeing you shortly ...
@ Mason – thanks for commenting so often ..
@ Gail – so your coastline is like the Mediterranean I guess ... that first picture is of Kalaloch, Washington coastal rock in USA ... it just gave a good example of the lichens, barnacles and other rock life .. in the zones ...
Glad you enjoyed the other photos that I took here in Eastbourne ...
We had a wet May Day ... but it’s good to get to Z .. and I could start to learn Hawaiian too .. but languages are not my forte ...
@ Madhu – thanks for coming so often and I’m glad you enjoyed the posts ... I’ll be dropping by to look through your stories and vote ..
@ Sharon – I’m glad the post brought back those memories of Puget Sound for you ... via the seaweed, kelp, barnacles and tides ... and our childhoods. I’ve loved your fruits series ... fascinating ones I knew nothing about .. thanks for coming across so often ..
@ Sophie – delighted that like me I’ve brought some new insights for you .. gosh I learn so much doing these A-Z challenges each year ... I was pleased with these iphone photos of Eastbourne ... so thank you ...
@ Margie - just delighted to see you here and to know you’ve enjoyed the posts ...
@ Sara – no worries re the Y ... they are very slow growers ... and have been used over the centuries ... so there aren’t so many of them now – often found in graveyards and churchyards ...
We have just about every possible geological outcrop – so we have that varied shoreline ... I don’t know .. but if I see a yellow poppy I shall be more cautious! The computer held out so far .. and a new one is being organised ...
Re your Z comment ... the groynes are amazing structures .. huge piles (large planks) of hardwood put in by Victorian engineers in the 1800s to protect the town from the rough and stormy seas. It was very high ... the tide takes 6 and a half hours .. so it’s a long wait! Thanks .. see you soon too ...
Part 3 following ...
@ Jeanne – thanks .. the Kalaloch tidal zone in Washington USA – did show what I wanted to depict - so though it’s not British .. it reflected my thoughts ... and thanks yes – a happy end ..
@ Lenny – how amazing to see you .. thanks so much for your congratulations ... and I’m so pleased you felt you learnt a bit about our coastline and thus Britain ... and I got brave at the end ... so I’m glad you liked the views of Eastbourne ... and know where I live now ...
Delighted if you feel I’ve been a good teacher – many thanks ... I’ll be emailing shortly ..
@ Denise – I see you made a couple of ‘long’ posts to comment on – appreciate your visits ... and yes no doubt my usual type of posts will appear!
@ Paula ... lovely to see you here .. and that my posts could take you away for a few seconds to dream on other things ... and I don’t blame you for taking sometime out – but look forward to you returning ...
@ Betty – the tidal zone looked amazing ... I think I’ll be back to have another look around and ponder what lies in the water or on the sands ...
I’m glad you were able to come along vicariously with me to “my neck of the woods” .. lovely having you here ...
@ Debi – many thanks and I’m sure we’ll stay in touch .. and isn’t the Zed line wonderful and a good zone to find ourselves in ...
@ Beate – lovely to see you here .. and I know you’ll be visiting lots of places in Germany with Keith – one day you might get over here ... to see England ...
@ Rosie – many thanks .. the whole shoreline experience has been fascinating for me ...
@ Michelle – lovely to see you ... and so pleased you enjoyed the theme ... and thank you for backtracking ... I need to do the same for a few bloggers too ...
@ Kaushik – yes habitats everywhere .. which we so often don’t think you – thanks for being such a stalwart commentator .. and I look forward to seeing you around ...
@ Susan – thanks so much ... and I’ll be back in the zone soon ... and better off with a new machine ... and some time to relax – exactly. I need to be back to read your posts too ... just so pleased we met ... see you shortly ...
@ Kim - many thanks re the photos – they do highlight the zones ...
@ Gary – thanks so much for your thoughts ... thank goodness for tidal zones is all I can say! I know you don’t like the A-Z ... but having settled into my annual rhythm it’s enjoyable .. frantic, granted ... but I wasn’t going to roast the toast at the coast!!!
@ Julia – I was chuffed with the photos ... lucky the tide was low! And thank you for coming by to comment even though you weren’t participating ...
@ Maria – so glad the photos pass muster ... and me too ... the Challenge is good .. and then there’s lots of lovely people around to keep in contact with ..
Thanks so much everyone – congratulations to you all who participated and thank you to those who’ve swung by to comment ... cheers and see you very soon - Hilary
Late to the party as usual, but just wanted to add my congrats - you must be X Zosted! What an amazing achievement, Hilary. I'm daft for trying to read more than one letter at a time, though - so much interesting material - but one fun thing I do after I've read back though the archives is to see which snippets come instantly back to mind. I'm feeling a bit ill today so I'm wondering if that's why the bits that stuck most were the seaworm damage (can middle aged women get seaworm?!) the lecanora tartarea (?) - that's my skin today - and the beautiful oil painting of Perranporth sands. What a joy that must be for you to see every day. Oh, and the swan sitting on the pollution - an inspiring symbol. Good luck with the C Drive.
Congratulations on completing A to Z!
Stunning photos, as usual. I especially love the one with the various greenery on the wall.
I grew up near the Pacific Ocean and now realize how fortunate I was. Being near water is very soothing. Living on a lake has been wonderful. Yet, here I am dreaming about living somewhere else. Near another body of water, I suppose.
Lovely post, Hilary. Congrats on finishing. It's a huge endeavour and you did it!
Are you glad this marathon run is over for now?
You have researched and worked very hard throughout. Are you at all breathless now?
Still you got to explore some very favourite places.
HI, Hilary,
CONGRATS on completing!
Your posts were so chock full of fascinating information about the British coast... I thoroughly enjoyed them!
Hope you are recovering nicely this weekend....
Z you soon. LOL
Well done, Hil. This post was a smashing finish to a great A-Z run.
Congratulations on finishing the Challenge! :) Marvelous Z post. I've always found tide pools fascinating.
Well done, Hilary! I enjoyed your A to Z by the shore. And I think iphone photos are just as good as a regular camera - well done on that, too!
@ Janice - great to see you .. late or no! I'm just so happy you enjoyed your read and look through .. I can't remember, so I'm not sure how anyone else does .. but if I amuse for the day, then I'm very happy ...!
Seaworm damage to us - I rather hope not .. mind you I'm crumbling, so perhaps that's what crawled in?!
I'm happy with my Perranporth painting - my mother bought it for me for my flat in London ... at the moment I need to find a place to hang it ... but great reminders of the gliding days and early Cornwall ...
Thanks re my C drive - it's in hand now and I'll be up to date fairly soon I hope ...
@ Theresa - many thanks - the greenery .. the seaweed clinging to the groynes - covered by the tide today when I went down ...
@ Joylene - yes being near the sea is a real treat ... we always went to Cornwall every year as kids ... and there's so much to do
Your lake looks just amazing and I know you want to move .. I hope it happens for you and you find somewhere 'watery' near the family on the east coast ...
Thanks for your support ..
@ Friko - I was - but you know it's stimulating?! I just enjoy it .. the hard work, the satisfaction ... I was breathless with the C drive hassle, but not much I could do ... I went with the flow and got through ..
I did visit some of my favourite places and found some new ones to visit sometime ...
@ Michael - good to see you - do we really get time off? I seem to be catching my tail still ... but I'm so happy people have enjoyed the posts and you've enjoyed touring with me around our British coastline fascinating ...
@ Suze - good to see you .. thanks the tidal zones fitted well ..
@ Christine - many thanks .. tidal pools are lovely, I must make the effort to get out to them more often ...
@ Lynn - thanks so much - delighted you enjoyed your tour round with me ... and the iphone photos came out really well didn't they ..
Thanks everyone - I'm so grateful to see you all here ... cheers Hilary
I love learning and I can say your posts have probably taught me more than any other this year, thanks a lot Hilary for a lovely look at our beautiful country...makes me homesick.
Lots of good Z's... and a great finish to the A2Z,
Well done to us all. :)
Maggie@expatbrazil
I've learned some more new words from you here Hilary: the strange line, and the splash zone . . .
Thank you.
@ Maggie - that's wonderful to read - thank you so much ... and yes I got homesick when I wasn't here and lived in South Africa ... so pleased you enjoyed the other posts ...
@ Juliet - thank you .. I try and bring in interesting snippets - the shore is an amazing place .. splash zone, tidal zone etc ..
Cheers to you - I rather hope that it was my computer causing me hassles that led me to stop replying to comments .. but appreciate the visit - Hilary
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