Bridging the gap

Cliff-top view

There has been a gap in my ancestry, indeed, in everyone’s, of which I’ve been totally unaware. Fortunately, it’s now being filled and right on my doorstep.

It seems that 360 to 345 million years ago some of our ancestors, those that survived one the extinction events that seem to occur from time to time, dragged themselves out of the sea and took up residence on land but nobody had much idea about them as there was a gap in the fossil record, the so-called Romer’s gap. I only know this from the local newspaper because it appears that the gap has been filled by fossils found right here in the cliffs and river beds. A paleontological breakthrough.

Descent

There was nothing for it but to go and have a look for myself. Beautiful day, beautiful views and a charming little fishing village but after scrambling precariously about on the shale slopes then almost getting marooned by the incoming tide, I drew a blank. A couple of rocks that looked like sea plant fossils …maybe… but nothing exciting, but then I’m not an expert and even they haven’t been able to find any until recently, hence the “gap”.

Fossils?

Coming home was more productive. Skeins of geese were honking their way north along the coast, a flock of goldeneye, several females with a male in attendance, rested just offshore. Presumably they were heading in the same direction.

Goldeneye

Primrose and celandine on the braes and speedwell in the field edges were opening to the sun.

The local cormorants are getting their white breeding plumage on. They are the masters of air and water but as clumsy on land as those first tetrapods must have been when they first waddled ashore in “gap” years of the Tournasian era.

I must go back and have another look though LotH has reminded me to take my mobile phone…..just in case.