The Clam Show!

   For quite some time now, there has been an odd little white spot in the mud near the pier.  This spot is there regardless of the tide.  Waves come and go.  The sandy spot is covered over with mud but then reappears in a few hours.  In the center of that white patch is a small hole about the size of a dime.  If you have patience and don't mind staring at one spot for a while during low tide, you will occasionally see a odd little spurt of water shooting up out of the hole.  It is reminiscent of a teeny geyser...in the mud, most of the time underwater and not hot.  So...what is this?

  Down in our soft mud we have a lot of clams.  They can easily bury themselves and live happily ever after in that one spot.   Occasionally, the raccoons or otters will go on a seafood binge and dig the clams but this one has been here quite a while.  I started noticing it over a year ago so no predator has taken a notion to go clamming yet.  The white spot with the hole actually has a name.  This is called a "clam show".  During really low tides, the clam can be seen spirting water through its siphon.  This helps it during feeding, reproduction and breathing.  As the water squirts out of the siphon and hole, it washes the mud to the side exposing the sandy part of the bottom.  If you dig down in the mud just a bit, you would find a nice, fat clam!

  So, now you know what I do with my spare time.  I watch clams.  (Not really.  Only when I am bored.)  But, admit it.  You did learn something today!  Clams squirt water creating a Clam Show!  A bit of Bayou Awesomeness there!