There were about 3 dozen or so Barrel Jellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo) of varying sizes washed ashore along Studland Beach and Shell Bay. They look like jelly filled plastic carrier bags with jelly tentacles and are said to have a sting similar to stinging nettles. Normally these plankton feeders would be found far off shore, though they can be encouraged in shore by warm weather and plankton blooms or forced by storms. But we're nearly in to winter and there haven't been any significant storms. Of course, although as I say we're in November and on the cusp of winter, it is unseasonably warm, so must I assume that these Barrel Jellyfish are another anomaly caused by climate change.
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