Rare octopus spotted on Tenby’s North Beach before vanishing

Gareth Davies A bright orange octopus rests on the beach. Its tentacles swing in different directions. — Octopus spotted at low tide on Tenby’s North Beach

A photographer taking a walk on a popular Welsh beach said he was “completely hooked” after spotting an octopus.

Gareth Davies witnessed the “beautiful” orange cephalopod burying itself in the sand in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, and “disappearing” in “an effortless display of camouflage”.

He said the sight was unexpected, but the beauty of walking by the sea was that you never knew “what could happen”.

comes later Record numbers seen In the UK last year, this led a wildlife charity to declare 2025 the “Year of the Blooming Octopus”.

This is not the first octopus to wash up on Welsh shores after two octopuses were spotted and rescued. crawling through Ceredigion Beach in 2022.

On another occasion an octopus was spotted changing color in shots Caught at Menai Bridge beach on Anglesey.

Professional photographer Gareth, from Pembroke, said the low tide at North Beach in Tenby had led to a “sense of anticipation” which was quickly rewarded.

“I unexpectedly came across a beautiful octopus,” he said.

“I watched, completely engrossed, as he began to bury himself in the sand, changing the color and texture of his skin in an effortless display of camouflage.”

He added that the octopus “disappeared as quietly as it appeared.”

Gareth said the octopus buried itself in the sand “in an effortless display of camouflage”.

Gareth Davies An orange octopus buries itself in the sand, with one of its yellow eyes and most of its head visible. — Gareth said the octopus buried itself in the sand “in an effortless display of camouflage”.

With warmer winters there has been a dramatic increase in the number of octopus sightings in UK waters; This is linked to climate change, which is thought to be responsible for population growth.

The Wildlife Trust said the largest number of octopuses since 1950 was seen off the south coast of Devon and Cornwall last year.

Gareth said he saw what he thought was an ordinary octopus, despite its name. Not very common in UK waters.

He described them as “highly intelligent” and an “active predator” equipped with “special glands that produce poison to incapacitate prey.”

But the octopus boom is posing a problem for shellfish species off the UK coast.

The eight-armed creatures eat shellfish such as lobsters, crabs and scallops, so the Wildlife Trust warns population numbers remain highBoth fishing and eating habits may need to change.