Three second year classes visited the mudflats this week – early morning excursions on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
And now for a few creatures from the mudflats:
Blood or bamboo worms (Capitella capitata)
Droopy anemones (Metridium senile)
A mysterious mudflat creature (above) and many more (below).
Second year Marine Science students made the annual trek to the mudflats located just across from the College in Pedder Bay this morning and yesterday morning at 6:45 am. I am somewhat disappointed to report that not a single student got stuck this year.
Taran was almost stuck, but managed to free herself too easily – no need for rescuing!
Sophia got a little bit of mud on her special suit…
…but it rinsed off easily.
Group photos of each class are below – see how happy everyone is?!
On Tuesday morning at 6:15 am, A block marine scientists canoed from the dock across the bay to a lovely little spot – the mudflats! All students survived that trip, although, as always, there was one who was almost lost.
Laas (above right, in the orange shirt and muddy hands!) almost lost her shoes in the mud and ended up walking barefoot.
Ben (above in polka dot boots) did very well to stay on the surface of the mud, despite being very tall.
Rikka & Angela learned that standing on a solid old dock prevents sinking into the mud.
This morning, Wednesday, at 6:15 am another group of intrepid marine scientists headed to that same location across the bay.
One student was almost lost to the mud (can you guess which one?) and one boot was left behind about 1 m deep in the mud.
We almost forgot to bring back a bucket full of organisms (clams, worms & crabs)…
But Sammy & Mariana volunteered to retrieve it…
In the process a second gumboot was almost lost (see Mariana’s left foot)…
But it all worked out in the end!
Great adventure all in all, even though a few in the mud did fall. Students learned about the mudflats distinctive smell, and some would call it a living hell.
Pearson College Marine Science 