Recording Marine Life


Click here to reset the map.

Records of Velella velella

Number seen/Abundance Date Location Comments Recorded by
Many 2003-05-21 Gwithian
Gwithian, St Ives, Cornwall		 Many tiny 3-4mm, very gelatinous bluish objects on beach. Ken Taylor
10000 2003-05-22 Gunwalloe
Gunwalloe fishing Cove, Helston Cornwall		 All along tidal high water mark, on western end of beach. Fresh, most still blue. John Turpin
P 2003-05-25 Meadowsfoot Beach
Mothecombe, Devon		 100 per square metre, along strand line, individuals on rocks. 0.7 - 13mm diameter. Photos and samples taken. Nova Mieszkowska
P 2003-05-19 Polpeor Beach
(most southerly point) The Lizard, Cornwall		 Literally thousands, seen stranded on the beach,in rock pools etc. ca. 2-3 cm diameter. Mike Moseley
100's 2003-05-25 Polhawn Beach
Whitsand Bay, Millbook near Plymouth.		 Winds NW and N most of start of week Owen Harris
1000's 2003-05-31 Happy Valley Beach
Happy Valley Beach (below Rame Head Cafe), Whitsand Bay, near Plymouth.		 Just been washed in by high tide. Winds been NW and W most of the start of the week. Owen Harris
P 2003-06-01 Bigbury Bay
Bigbury Bay, Devon		 Some, seen in the bay Jon Anthony
P 2003-05-25
On strand line along the beach with a strong smell of ammonia coming from them. Some were completely		 Thousands seen on strandline in many different sizes. Patricia Johnstone
10 2003-06-03 The Spittles
between Lyme Regis and Charmouth, Dorset.		 Seen on the shore. Penny Price
P 2003-05-25 Crackington Haven
North Devon		 Millions seen stranded on the beach. Alan Burt
1000's 2003-05-21 Polurrian Cove
Cornwall		 covering beach at shoreline, recently stranded in good condition, sail NW-SE orientation Vivienne Fletcher
Large numbers 2003-06-04 Between Marazion and Penzance
On strandline at Long Rock Beach 		Along strandline. Fresh. Patricia Johnstone
P 2003-05-24 Bude
Cornwall		 Thousands 1-2cm in diameter. Simon Davy
P 2003-05-29 Constantine Bay
Nr Padstow, Cornwall		 Dozens dried out individuals in strandline. Size up to 4.5cm. Guy Baker
1.25 million 2003-06-06 Plymouth Hoe
Tinside Diving Boards		 Rafts of dead/dying individuals (possibly stranded and refloated). One raft c. 5x5m and c. 5-6 Velella/10x10 cm = 1.25 million. Also updside down individuals stranded in swimming pools with strandline debris. Keith Hiscock
3 2003-06-04
Southern end of Lundy		 Mrs Hodgson
P 2003-05-25
Watergate Bay, nr Newquay, Cornwall		 Seen in rocks pools and in sand. Jenny Moore
10,000 2003-06-04
Trebah, Cornwall (177400E, 27175N)		 Seen over 50m - a ribbon on the tideline. John Lewis
P 2003-06-03
Hemmick Beach, Cornwall		 100's seen about 3pm. Mrs Goddard
P 2003-06-05
Between Newlyn and Mounts Bay on strandline		 Lots. Clemence
P 2003-05-24
Harlyn Bay, nr Padstow, Cornwall		 Some seen. Dave Ricketts
P 2003-05-28
Falmouth Bay		 Lots in water. Alison Gaysford
2 2003-05-29
Weymouth Beach, Dorset		 Seen in shallow water off the beach Helen Ellery
P 2003-06-07
Polzeath Beach, North Cornwall		 Several seen on beach. Amanda Knight
P 2003-07-04
Grunta Beach, near Woolacombe, Devon		 Stranded across the beach. About 100 inspected - all 11 o'clock-5 o'clock sails. Keith Hiscock
Many hundr
Woolacombe Beach, Devon.		 Seen washed in and stranded in the morning tide. Phil Reid
Large numb 2003-07-09
Outer Bristol Channel		 Flat calm water, Velella covering several square kilometres of water. Ivor Rees
200 + 2003-07-11
Gower Peninsular,Southern end of beach at Rhossili Bay.		 Seen apparently stranded along a 0.5 mile approx stretch of beach.Possibly much the same further along the shore,as they could be seen in all directions, but did not walk any further. Liz Machin
Many 2002-08-10
Watergate bay, Newquay, Cornwall.		 Most were about 5-7 cm in length but one was about 10 cm in length with small blue tendrills below. Seb DeGange
1 2005-07-31
Watergate bay, near Newquay Cornwall		 Floating in the bay Ali Hood
hundreds 2002-07
Chapel Porth, St Agnes, Cornwall		 very small velella velella measuring about 1 cm in length in rock pools and stranded on the beach. Very noticeable due to their dark blue edging. Seb DeGange
Numerous 2002-06-08
Broad Haven Beach, Pembrokeshire		 Millions blown in with tide, on various beaches in Pembrokeshire, and stranded on the high water mark Rosemary Meddows
1 2003-06-01
Ramsey Island (east), Pembrokeshire Ramsey Island, Pembrokeshire		 Jean Summers
1 2002-07-20
20 metres offshore - Polzeath bay		 Very small individual approx 3 cm accross Dan Lear
P 2002-06-03
Rhossili beach, Gower Peninsula		 Hundreds stranded along the shore Emma Wolton
P 2002-05-27
Pembrokeshire Coast - SW Wales. Nolton Bay, West Dale Bay and Milford Haven (South Hook Point).		 Thousands seen, many Velella over 3 beaches. Most stranded at HTM. Appeared dead but at West Dale saw large groups in sea which appeared to be going back out with tide. Maureen Hailstone
100s 2002-05-30
Rhosneigr beach, on west cost of Anglesey.		 Large strandings seen on Lleyn peninsula also. Sion Roberts
10 2002-05-31
Between Plymouth Sound and the Eddystone		 Juvenille all about 1.5cm in lenght. Observed close togther within 10-20cm or 1-2m of each other (aggregated). Deep blue in colour. David Sims
P 2002-05-28
Quarry Beach, Lundy		 Several seen on beach following couple of weeks of strong westerly and southwesterly winds. Strandings continued for about a fortnight. Ben Sampson
Numerous 2002-06-01
Between Bideford and Lundy		 Large raft of by-the-wind-sailors seen from MV Oldenburg on way to Lundy. Ian Reach
100's 2003-01-28
A sandy beach with some pebble areas set in a cove facing west. There are cliffs behind and to the l		 Lots of clear ones (3-5cm long) and a few larger blue edged ones, measuring 4-7 cm long. The NW winds have whipped the seas up and in they came stranded on the beach. Seb DeGange
Hundreds 2001-11-21
Start Bay, seaward side of Slapton Ley, Devon		 Paul Fivian
P 2002-06-08
Marloes Sands, Pembrokshire		 Millions blown in with tide, on various beaches in Pembrokeshire, and stranded on the high water mark Rosemary Meddows
100 2002-11-16
Studland Bay (Nr Swanage), Dorset.		 Velella, velella washed onto beach near 'Old Harry Rocks' Steve Trewhella
Millions 2004-06-18 Portallintrae
Bushfoot Strand, Portallintrae, County Antrim, Northern Ireland		 Very small, some with sails. Young goose barnacles and Aurelia also seen. Strong winds from the North for the past few days. Philip Watson
Many 2002-08-10
Watergate bay, Newquay, Cornwall.		 Most were about 5-7 cm in length but one was about 10 cm in length with mall blue tendrils below. Seb DeGange
P 2002-06-08 St Brides Bay
St Brides Bay, Pembrokeshire		 Millions blown in with tide, on various beaches in Pembrokeshire, and stranded on the high water mark Rosemary Meddows
hundreds 2002-07
Chapel Porth, St Agnes, Cornwall		 very small velella velella measuring about 1 cm in length in rock pools and stranded on the beach. Very noticeable due to their dark blue edging. Seb DeGange
Numerous 2002-06-08
Broad Haven Beach, Pembrokeshire		 Millions blown in with tide, on various beaches in Pembrokeshire, and stranded on the high water mark Rosemary Meddows
50 2002-05-31 Trearrdur Bay
Trearrdur Bay, Isle of Anglesey, North Wales.		 The species was immediately spotted due to the high density of abundance. The beach and shore was literally covered with these cnidarians. Katy Breeze
1 2002-07-20
20 metres offshore - Polzeath bay		 Very small individual approx 3 cm accross Dan Lear
P 2002-06-11 Criccieth
Criccieth		 Tens of individuals in detritus at edge of water at LWS Nova Mieszkowska
P 2002-06-12 Hell's mouth beach
Hells Mouth or Porth Neigwl		 10,000s of individuals, the beach is about 3 miles long, walked almost a mile from car park to site & there was a continuous band along the strand line of dead ones. In the water there were also 100s of possibly live ones close to the water's edge Nova Mieszkowska
P 2002-06-08 Little Haven Beach
Little Haven Beach, Pembrokeshire		 Millions blown in with tide, on various beaches in Pembrokeshire, and stranded on the high water mark Rosemary Meddows
P 2002-06-14 Porth Dafarch
Porth Dafarch, Anglesey		 Thousands on the strandline and hundreds in the water. Nova Mieszkowska
P 2002-06-14 Rhosneigr
Rhosneigr, Anglesey		 Thousands on strandline and hundreds in water. Nova Mieszkowska
P 2002-06-15 Porth Trecastell
Porth Trecastell, Anglesey		 Thousands of dead individuals washed on rocks both in the cove and on the rocks to the north and south. Nova Mieszkowska
P 2002-06-11
Barafundle bay, Wales.		 I was on a field trip and was intrigued by all the specimens I could see around the beach. I asked my supervisors what they were and they told me bits of plastic!!! Having now done some research, I can say with all certainty that they were $Velella velella$ Timothy Aldred
100's 2003-01-28
A sandy beach with some pebble areas set in a cove facing west. There are cliffs behind and to the l		 Lots of clear ones (3-5cm long) and a few larger blue edged ones, measuring 4-7 cm long. The NW winds have whipped the seas up and in they came stranded on the beach. Seb DeGange
P 2004-08-20 Carrigagharoe Point
Carrigagharoe Point, Castlegregory Tralee Bay, Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry. Eire		 Hundreds washed on beach and in the sea. Cheryl Lawrance
P 2004-09-15 Whitesands Bay
Porth Selau and Porth Melgan in Whitesands Bay area of Pembrokeshire.		 Several hundred washed up on beaches Isobel Treloar
P 2004-09-22 Marsland Mouth
Marsland Mouth, on the Devon/Cornwall border		 several thousand stranded on foreshore,float around 6cm across, sails predominantly NW-SE orientation (i.e. left scaling),goose barnacles found in same location Grant Wilkey
P 2004-09-23 Burnham on Sea
Burnham on Sea beach, Somerset		 Between 1000-10000 washed up at high tide. None were present yesterday Tom Raven
100 2004-09-24 Llantwit Major
Llantwit Major beach, Vale of Glamorgan		 Dead and dying on rock and in rockpool. 6cm in length. Sails NW to SE. Alexandra Babbage
P 2004-09-30 Weston super mare
Weston super mare		 Thousands washed up on tide line and on beach Bob Levy
P 2004-09-18 Freshwater West
Freshwater West, Pembrokeshire		 Tens of thousands in crevices, on rocks and on beach. Everywhere I looked I saw thousands. Sandra Booth
P 2004-09-25 Porthtowan
Porthtowan beach		 Thousands on strandline: some fresh (ie still with blue animal attached to sail), others dacayed (ie only sail remaining) all about 8cm long - these had been around for about 3 or 4 days and had been smelling very badly - by today, no smell Wendy Henwood
P 2004-09-01 Higher town beach
Higher town beach, St Martins, Isles of Scilly		 Seen washed up on beach Olivia Drake
P 2004-09-03 Higher town beach
Higher town beach, St Martins, Isles of Scilly		 Seen washed up on beach Olivia Drake
P 2004-09-29 Flat Holm
Flat Holm, In Bristol Channel, 3 miles away from Cardiff		 Approx 1000 found dead on high water mark of beach Julie Furber
P 2004-10-10 Penllech Beach
North end Penllech Beach		 1000's seen on strandline (S.W. facing) Pete Wilkinson
c.40 2006-11-15
Shore south of Port a' Bhorrain, Kintyre, Argyll		 One of dozens washed up on shore south of Port a' Bhorrain aftera period of stormy weather. Photograph can be submitted for verification purposes. Blair Urquhart
30-50 2006-11-22
On the beach at Laracurry,the Isle of Doagh, Inishowen peninsula,County Donegal		 Size 5cm x 2cm approx,seen on shingle upper beach near tide line. Floats only, no tentacles Carol Gilroy
1000 + 2006-11-21
Scotch bay Milford Haven Pembrokeshire		 Washed up on beach after severe storm. Terence Hicks
thousands 2006-11-26
All local beaches in the Pwllheli area, a large stranding of velella velella. 		Bernard Roberts
Thousands 2006-11-25 Marloes Sands
Marloes Sands Pembrokeshire		 All along shoreline at highest point of tide. Up to 5 cm diameter. Terry Dobson
Thousands 2006-11-26
Praa Sands beach, SW Cornwall		 Continuous along beach and in water John Marshall
>1000 2006-11-26
Bracelet Bay, Mumbles, Swansea		 At high water line. Richard Williams
1000's
Washed up on shoreline after several days of strong Southerly or S.Westerly winds. Mostly about 5 - 6cm long. Sails bottom left to top right diagonal.
very abundant 2006-11-26 Widemouth bay
Widemouth bay		 Dead on strandline Steve Trewhella
common 2006-11-26 Sandymouth bay
Sandymouth bay		 Live velella on rising tide Steve Trewhella
common 2006-11-28
Kimmeridge		 Steve Trewhella
100 2006-11-29
Compton bay beach south coast of the isle of wight		 Laying on the beach after a storm 3 to 4 inch long Andrew Jacobs
hundreds 2006-11-30
Langdon Beach (round corner to the west of Wembury Beach)		 Washed up on beach, some fresh and some old and paper thin, largest 5-6cm long Cat Ridout
100-200 2006-11-23
Isle of Doagh, beach, Inishowen peninsula, Co Donegal Eire		 Seen on pebbles at tide line, 2cmx5cm Carol Gilroy
common 2006-11-28 Highcliff beach
highcliff beach		 Steve Trewhella
Abundant 2006-12-02
hobarrow bay dorset		 Steve Trewhella
Single dead creature 2006-12-05
West of the roundabout by Sea lane cafe		 Washed up on the strand line Paul Parsons
100s. Not a mass stranding but wherever you stopped you could find them. 2006-12-08
Goring beach at the bottom of Aldsworth avenue		 Fresh?, still blue and fleshy. Found on top of the weed and debris of the strand line.4-6cm in length. Paul Parsons
10000 2006-12-08 Sandside
Sandside, Kirkby in Furness. On the Duddon Estuary		 Washed up on high water mark over about 1 mile ROBERT ECCLES
Many DD/MM/YYYY
Fresh Treve Opie
1000's stranded 2006-12-02 Lleyn Peninsula
North Coast Lleyn Peninsula. Porth Oer to Penllech .Strand line		 strand line pete wilkinson
Literally Millions
washed up on sandy shore over four days in the Millions, all fresh, all to 10cm, five days later thousands more came up but only ranged from 2-5mm
2 2007-05-26
'Singing Sands', Gorteneon, Ardnamurachan Peninsula, The Highlands, West Coast of Scotland, UK		 Seen washed up on beach within 1 metre of each other. Both specimens around 25-30mm across. Thomas Kerridge
Present 2006-11-26 Amroth
Amroth		 Beach littered with specimens Stu Roberts
c30 2007-08-31 Yellow Strand
Yellow Strand, County Sligo		 About half still alive with blue tissue. Most exceptionally large, up to 70mm. Don Cotton
20 2007-09-04 Kiloran Bay
Isle of Colonsay, Argyll		 Washed up along tide line Louise Robertson
c. 100 2006-11-26 Isle of Skye
Isle of Skye		 in a small bay tangled in seaweed and scattered in gravel Margaret Munro
1 2008-02-02
broad bench near kimmeridge dorset		 washed up Steve Trewhella
one 2008-07-01 Borth golf course
Borth golf course		 Adult, dried body blown onto golf course. Anne Hobbs
1 2008-08-25
Porthcawl Seafront Beach in front of the pavilion, Wales.		 Solitary Vellela velella found in rockpool. Size: 6cm x 3cm. Presumed dead. Georgette Kluiters
3 2008-09-30
Island of loch laxford		 On shore at low tide ruth paterson
approx 5 to 10 per metre of strandline 2008-10-05 Mealasta beach
Mealista beach. W coast of Lewis		 freshly washed up along HW strandline - more seen on other nearby beaches Paul Tyler
Many (100-200) 2008-10-04 Dal Mor Beach
Dal Mor beach - west side of Isle of Lewis		 washed up on the beach and the sail parts were sepereate as well whole intacted animals Gayle Findlay
2 2008-10-26 Putsborough Beach
Putsborough Beach		 washed up Steve Trewhella
Thousands 2009-05-18 Praa sands
Beach		 Spread in waves accross beach. Varying in sizes from less than 1 cm to approx 4 cm Tom Wass
2 2009-05-22 Woolacombe Beach
The far northern end of Woolacombe Beach near the rocks		 On sand, approx. 5-6cm Sarah Clayson
Many thousands, probably millions 2009-05-20 Kynance Cove,Cormwall
South-facing sandy and rocky shores of Kynance Cove, near Lizard Point		 large live floating raft out on sea surface some 50 yards from shore; also many thousands freshly washed up on shore at high tide mark presumably dead. Size range from tiny 0.3cm, majority approx. 1cm, some up to 7cms. Sheila Ripper
1 2009-05-24 Blackstone Rocks, Wembury
Rockpools		 Cat Ridout
Millions, even billions possibly 2009-05-22 Gunwalloe
Church Cove, Gunwalloe, Lizard; and Poldhu Cove, Mullion, Lizard. Both small sandy coves between rocky cliffs.		 Dense masses stranded on foreshore, in irregular lines, both at Poldhu Cove and at Church Cove, Gunwalloe. More coming in with tide / small waves, looking like an oil-slick. Deep blue colour, fresh-looking - though strong \\\"fishy\\\" smell indicating rapid decay setting in. Gulls feeding voraciously on them at water\\\'s edge. Mostly tiny individuals, a few mms long, but a very few larger specimens up to about 5cms. Sails of all larger specimens we noted were set at \\\"NE-SW\\\" direction, looking from above. None noted at Kennack Sands later same day, on east side of Lizard. Paul Madgett
Many thousands 2009-05-25 English Channel
5 miles south of Looe, Cornwall		 At sea. All 1 to 3 cms. Pictures available Michael Poole
40/50 2009-05-26 Approx 10 miles north of St Ives Head
At sea on board our charter boat San Pablo III		 Drifting along with us as we were drifting/angling. from very small up to 5cms Dougie Wright
60 2009-06-06 Wicklow, Ireland
Silver Strand beach		 On beach Philip Smith
1 2009-06-04 Westward Ho! beach
Atlantic sea, flat sandy beach		 Showed v v to life guard who said there had been similar reports from other bathers on this date on this beach Marilyn Reeves
50 2009-07-27 Marloes Beach, Pembrokeshire
West-facing sandy beach.		 Stranded on sandy beach. Helen Dodsworth
150 2009-07-30 Freshwater West Beach, Pembrokeshire
West-facing, sandy beach.		 Stranded on sandy beach. Helen Dodsworth
30 2009-08-16 galway
silver strand beach, near galway city		 Washed up on beach, still blue. Left by outgoing tide. sarah farrell
30 2009-08-30 Gairloch
Wester-ross, Scotland		 Washed up on beach in amongst seaweed Jane MacLennan
100-200 2009-09-17 Skaill Bay
Sandy bay on the West coast of the Orkney Isles. Weather has been fair but seas rough. 8am this morning, 170909, 100 - 200 live velella velella along the tide line. Most about 5cm long.		 Scattered along the centre section of the sandy bay at high tide mark. Penelope Park
3 2010-08-21 Rosbeg, Donegal
along the shoreline on the magheramore beach, near rosbeg,in west donegal, ireland		 floating in the very shallow water at the shoreline and one beached. was just coming out from sufing so did not spend time to look for more. Joy Peters
400 + 2010-08-29 Portrush
beach after strong gales		 Also Dosima Pic of this uploaded to Wiki commons and added to Buoy Barnacle page Velella pic also uploaded Robert Nash
100+ 2010-08-30 Lacken Strand
Lacken Strand, Back Strand, Kilcummin, Co Mayo, Ireland		 Washed up on Beach and in rock pools Brendan McLaren
30-50 2010-08-27 portstewart strand
2 mile sandy beach on atlantic ocean		 Washed up by the waves - never seen them here before Mary Davies
approx 12 2010-11-03 Isle of Tiree
Hough beach, pebbled and sandy beach		 washed up on shingley shore Alison Campbell
100-1000 28/5/2011 Borth Sands
West facing sandy beach backed by a pebble bank and sand dunes on the south side of the River Dyfi estuary		 Stranded on tide line. 10mm-40mm all left-handed. Oliver Ellis
1000+ 30/05/2011 Black Rock Sands, Morfa Bychan
Strandings on beach		 extensive stranding of Velella velella along entire stretch of Black Rock Sands beach varying in size from 1cm diameter to 10cm diameter Stephen Ayliffe
approx 100 30/05/2011 Barmouth, Wales
On the beach at the water's edge we spotted lots of Valella Valella (by the wind sailor) jellyfish washed up by the stormy weather		 washed up on the beach, varying sizes - smaller ones looked like mussel shells at first Sam Lowe
80-100 25/06/2011 Southbourne Beach
Groyne 47, Southbourne Beach (sandy beach), strand line. Sun & Cloud, Max Temp 20c , Wind WSW 17mph high tide 07:19 & 19:44, low tide 11.19. Found at 16.30pm.		 average 2.5cm in length. scattered along the strandline. Helen Keeling
100 3/7/2011 Manhattan Beach, CA
sandy shore tide line		 washed up in tide line david birznieks