View of part of the Fujairah Corniche and the Hajar Mountains in the Background

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Sideways Sand Shuffle

It’s that time of the year when scores of sand crabs are to be seen along the eastern beaches.

At low tide the sand looks more like the lunar surface with lots of large holes and about a foot away from each, a pointed castle of sand.

The crabs are about the diameter of an adult fist and they’re extremely shy on land so hopefully they’re just as shy under water when they see an approaching foot. One needs to look about 30-40 metres ahead to see them and they usually move in groups. Once they see someone they cartwheel towards their hole or skitter to the sea.

Geoff Pound

Image: A sand crab close up (this is not my photo but was presumably taken by a photographer with a telephoto lens) and signs of the sand crab.