Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2013 | Page 57

COUNTRY LIFE inshore to breed and lay eggs, which you might see attached to seaweeds and seagrass on a low tide. The eggs are easily identified, as they resemble bunches of black grapes. After laying their eggs, females usually die, and you often find cuttlefish bones - the internalised shell - washed up on the shore in late spring and early summer. Possibly the cutest cephalopod in our area is the little cuttle. Only five centimetres long, it spends much of its time half buried in the sand, hiding from predators while keeping an eye out for passing prey. Octopuses are only occasionally found in our local seas. The warm water common octopus, has been found a few times, but is on the edge of its range in these cooler waters. The lesser, or curled octopus, is more abundant. They often feed on crabs; if you find crab remains, it can indicate that octopuses have been hunting. A few squid species are found locally, including the European common squid, and the long finned squid. You can sometimes find their eggs attached to the underside of rocks at low tide. Although seeing our local cephalopods is tricky without diving equipment, finding eggs and bones on a seashore ramble is a sure sign they are around. Search for cephalopods or cuttlefish at www.youtube.com or visit your local aquarium. Watch cuttlefish at Fort Victoria Squi d eg gs Your local Wildlife Trust The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust works to create a better future for wildlife and wild places in Hampshire and the Island. As the leading local wildlife conservation charity, it looks after 57 wildlife reserves, A Sha n ny Aquarium on the Island, then head to the beach just outside to look for cuttlefish bones. Full details of all the Wildlife Trust’s Marine work can be found at www.hiwwt.org.uk has 28,000 members and 1,000 volunteers. The Trust manages its own land and advises other landowners how to manage their land with wildlife in mind. Staff and volunteers also carry out surveys and gather data to monitor how our local wildlife is doing. Beechcroft House, Vicarage Lane, Curdridge, Hampshire SO32 2DP Tel: 01489 774400 www.hiwwt.org.uk www.visitislandlife.com 57