COASTLAND HABITATS - A BRIEF OVERVIEW.
| ROCKY COAST | An excellent diversity of creatures can be
found on almost any rocky shore with a good rock-pooling session a real
eye-opener. Seaweeds are obvious and beneath these marine plants
many small animals may be found with crustaceans, molluscs, starfish and
anemones usually abundant. Fish such as gobies can be numerous in
rockpools but patience is required to get the best views.
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| SAND AND SHINGLE | A very hostile habitat due to its unstable
and erosive nature although the few species that can be found here are
quite unique and are worth the effort. Nesting plovers,
yellow-horned poppy and sea-kale are possibilities and various molluscs
may be uncovered with a little digging.
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| CLIFFS | The main attractions of a good coastal cliff
area are the nesting birds and varied plant life. Late spring is the
optimum time with thrift, sea campion, scurvy grass and kidney vetch all
on show to a background chorus of breeding ornithological delights.
The underlying rock is the key to what botanical species will be present
with acid eventually producing heathland and lime encouraging orchids to
bloom in abundance.
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| SAND DUNES | Excellent wildlife areas with usually an
abundance of species on show. Botanical life can be quite varied
with the dominant marram and lime grasses excellent in aiding dune
stabilisation. On established dune systems insect life will flourish
and with slacks, shrubby areas and such almost anything can be turned
up. The hillocks are susceptible to damage through over trampling
where blow-outs can easily be caused due to irresponsible behaviour.
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| SALTMARSH | The silt deposited by rivers at their sea
mouths form the extensive saltmarshes we are all familiar
with. The highly specialised plant and animal life found on a
good saltmarsh can result in a very rewarding experience. The plants
are tough and succulent due to the fact of a twice a day immersion in
salty water which is broken by exposure to sub-zero conditions or baking
hot sunshine. Due to these harsh climactic conditions animals are
less abundant.
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| STRANDLINE |
Almost everyone who pays a visit to a beach has at some time had a rummage among the strandline debris. A whole host of hidden gems may be discovered with shells, sponges, seaweeds, egg cases and other maritime delights. Occasionally after a good storm at sea a bumper bonanza of the seas hidden life is exposed with starfish, crabs and even the odd sharks tooth waiting to be discovered. A good source of food and shelter for many invertebrates especially the ubiquitous sandhopper. Gulls often congregate here scavenging on anything worthwhile. |