Within moments, there are calls of “I can feel something”; then, as the rakes are worked deeper, the exquisite forms of plump common cockles appear as the mud clears in the briny film that covers the beach. Soon there is excitement: the youngest is scooping shellfish from the sand and the older two heckle her to work faster while competing to find the biggest specimen. Our prey are here in their thousands and we select the best, leaving the rest to resubmerge safely. After an hour of hard work and a few mud fights, we have a modest number and head for shore.