A beach walker in Blackpool made a surprising discovery of a cluster of gooseneck barnacles, a rare delicacy often found on UK shores after storms.
A walker stumbled upon an unusual sight during a beach trip in Blackpool . Chevaun Hands captured a photo of a peculiar cluster of seaweed and shells over the weekend and posted it on Facebook, seeking assistance in identifying the find. Several users responded, confirming that the shells belonged to gooseneck barnacles. This rare barnacle species is considered a delicacy in countries like Portugal and Spain but occasionally washes ashore on UK beaches following storms.
In 2022, a similar-sized collection of barnacles was discovered on a beach in Gwynedd and reportedly valued at £4,000. According to the Wildlife Trusts, barnacles are crustaceans, related to crabs and lobsters. Gooseneck barnacles filter feed on plankton and debris, utilizing their specialized legs to capture it from the water. These creatures can be purchased fresh online for around £80-£90 per kilogram or at a lower price if frozen.Identifying Gooseneck Barnacles:Goose barnacles are easily recognizable. They grow in dense groups on floating objects, featuring delicate chalky white shells attached to the object by a fleshy black stalk (or peduncle). A similar species, the buoy barnacle (lepas fascicularis), floats attached to a spongy 'buoy' it creates instead of an object and has a pale purple color.Distribution:Goose barnacles are frequently found on the west and southwest coasts of the UK, especially after storms.Strange Fact:Historically, it was believed that barnacle geese hatched from gooseneck barnacles. When two barnacle geese appeared in Scotland, their origins puzzled people as no one had ever witnessed a barnacle goose nest or egg. The resemblance between the barnacle goose's head and the gooseneck barnacle shell led to the misconception that geese grew attached to ships and emerged as feathered birds
BARNACLES BLACKPOOL BEACH RARE SPECIES UK
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