Country diary: Hermit crab is a rare find on West Country rockpool safari

‘I would have overlooked such a coastal gem were it not for the expertise of the staff at Devon Wildlife Trust.’ A St Piran’s hermit crab at Wembury beach, Devon. Photograph: Charlie Elder

A pair of polka dot eyes on stalks peered out from the dark refuge, watching me through the shallow seawater. Several times this shy little creature had darted back from the open mouth of the shell, as if swallowed by the corkscrew hollow in which it hid.

With one knee propped against the side of the rockpool, I remained as still as I could, meeting the gaze of these black and white spotted discs that looked more like fibre optics than eyes. Bit by bit they emerged into the light, with thin antennae the colour of candied orange peel, claws flecked with light blue, and jointed legs, their pointed tips striped as if clad in sports socks.