Beachcombing is addictive

Donald owns up to a habit of beachcombing

Photo by Jayne Harris on Unsplash

“You really are a fossicker!” she shouted. Through the blast of wind and nipping sand I heard her clearly and wondered why she was shouting insults. I couldn’t but help reply as she was smiling at the same time. What on earth do you mean I politely enquired. “A treasure hunter, searching for “gold” on the beach, known by most as a beachcomber,” she responded.

Getting up from the sand off my knees I realised she was probably correct.

I was searching for treasure; groaties or Groatie Buckies in Caithness, cowrie shells elsewhere, the northern cowrie, Trivia arctica it’s posh name, very similar to the European Cowrie, the latter differentiated by two spots on the shell. Both are scarce on the north beaches but found around Durness and Scourie, well camouflaged amongst the sand. Cowries live in the sublittoral region below the tideline living off sea squirts and sponges, their shells washed ashore by incoming tides.

Trivia arctica in the intertidal. Dr Keith Hiscock Copyright Dr Keith Hiscock

Birds I cannot avoid turning over to find out if they have bird rings on the legs, much to the chagrin of my wife. If ringed you can note the number/letters and send that off to discover who ringed the bird and when, and where it came from. Best not to touch beached birds at all just now, until the bird flu disappears. I have found sea beans, mahogany-coloured flat discs, washed across the Atlantic from the Americas or West Indies.

 I have also come across two bottles with messages inside, cue “message in a bottle” song from Police.

Both were a bit of an anti-climax, the first was from a young boy scout in Ireland, who took part in a competition to find out whose bottle would travel furthest. It was a few years riding on the waves, the young man was twelve, but crucially he didn’t give any address or contact details – very frustrating! Despite much Googling I could not trace the source. So, if you cast away a bottle with any message inside be sure to put you contact details, even an e-mail address nowadays.

The other was just plain insulting. After carefully opening the bottle and extracting and unrolling the note I was non-plussed to read “GET A LIFE!”, what was the point?

I have a life….I beachcomb.

Donald Mitchell is a passionate ranger and nature enthusiast, the author dedicates their time to exploring and conserving the natural landscapes of Scotland, with a particular focus on the northern coastlines and their unique ecosystems.

Interested in beach finds ?- why not join Donald in the online talk:

Beachcombers guide to the strange finds on the beaches of North West Highlands

Thursday, January 23, 2025 · 7:30 - 9pm GMT

From stranded whales and sea turtles to mermaids purses and by-the-wind sailors Ranger Donald Mitchell and Andy Summers will take you through some of the fascinating and weird finds that have occured on the remote beaches of West Sutherland. Treasure such as driftwood, fossils, unusual sea creatures, interesting pebbles, sea glass, bizzare animal footprints and beautiful seaweeds.