Common Cockles bury themselves just below the surface, filtering plankton and organic matter from the water. Their robust, ridged shells help protect them from predators like crabs and whelks. Around Lihou, they are more likely to inhabit sandy pockets or softer sediments at lower tide zones, where their siphons can reach the seawater. Look out for their empty shells washed up on the beaches – sometimes with the 2 parts still connected.