It was reported in the local papers a couple of weeks ago that large numbers of barrel jellyfish (also called dustbin lid jellyfish) were washing up all over the beaches of west Wales, with Tenby's South beach being inundated with them. I had forgotten that information until we went walking on that particular beach this afternoon.
I'd got it into my head that I wanted to search out some pebbles and shells in strong shades of black or white to draw and ultimately design a print from and my husband needs no second bidding for a walk along the shoreline. Of course he walks with his head held high taking in the view whilst I walk head down,camera in hand, scanning, scanning, scanning...... and we were really surprised to come across so many jellyfish on the strandline. Somehow we'd assume they would have floated back to sea by now but so many seem to have been washed up so high that return to the water was not to be.
They varied in size and colour, some being a clear viscous mass and others quite a dense aquarmarine. The smallest was about a foot across but I saw a whopper or two that must have been at least a metre in diameter. Checking up when I got home, I read that they can weigh up to 40 kilos and that, although they sting, it is not a sting that will harm humans. As with a lot of large marine creatures they feed on the smallest plankton and have appeared this year because of the mild winter. Ordinarily killed off by the cold, the milder weather meant they just went further down to the sea bed and overwintered. The warmer Spring water has subsequently brought them to the surface in their droves.
I did get a few grumpy coughs in my direction as even my patient husband got fed up with me looking at their internal mechanics and oohing and aahing at the beautiful indigo pattern that trails around their outer edge.
When I eventually gave up the forensic examination of the jellyfish he was happy to help me collect a few things......
I love these odd little pebbles, shell fragments and stones and shall now draw them I think. I also found a lump of something on the beach that crumbled like rust so I intend to grind it down and see if it work as a natural pigment to draw or paint with. It was a lovely afternoon and the return walk through the dunes to the car park was filled with both of trying to identify the many wild flowers there were. I saw masses of flag iris in the wet area on the edge of the walk and wild carrot, speedwell, sea kale and even a Large Heath butterfly, the first one that either of us has ever seen so it was an afternoon of abundance and whilst I was sorry to see so many dead jellyfish they were a fascinating sight. I know more about them tonight that I knew this morning and any day I learn something new has to be a good one.
