The rolling in and out of the tides, with the wind and rain of the winter storms, many coast lines are dotted with the remains of thousands of years of buffeting by so many of these forces.

In turn, these mammoth monolith structures attract a multitude of species from the great selection that nature offers.

On the larger or higher islands, a few trees find the space to develop a few roots and although they may never attain great heights, they add a little beauty to the bare rock. These in turn may provide a safe haven for a number of birds, but the rock itself is the main attraction for so many more birds that find these spots relatively safe from predators.

As the tide recedes during the summer season of low tides, we are able to observe a few of the animals that would be otherwise safely hidden from view in rocky crevices and hollows.

As we leave the water with the Guillemots putting on a show, we go exploring amongst the rocks and tidal pools.

The Ochre Sea Star, Pisaster ochraceus, comes in many colours from orange to brown to purple. They are related to sea urchins as they also have tube feet.

Sea Stars, sometimes called Starfish, do not have rigid skeletons but a tough thick skin which offers protection. They can withstand each other's company and can be found in huge numbers. They feed on mussels and clams.

	The Green Anemone, Anthopleura xanthogrammica, lives in the tide pools along exposed shores. There may be many close together but are not aggressive towards each other. The tentacles are poisonous which it uses to paralyze its food that includes mussels, sea urchins and small fish and crabs.

There are numerous species of barnacles and here we have Giant Acorn Barnacles, Balanus nubilus, found on the low tide mark of open coasts where they adhere to rocks and hard surfaces. They grow in bunches and even on top of each other, forming huge masses that are frequently broken off in storms.

Another barnacle is the much smaller Acorn Barnacle, Balanus glandula. As adults they live in huge colonies, attaching themselves to any hard surface like rocks, pebbles, pilings and boats. The name of course comes from the shape of the hard calcareous plates that protect its body. Like all barnacles, Acorn Barnacles feed on microscopic plants and animals.