Marine, intertidal, sand, semi -protected, eulittoral

These sands have some silt mixed in with them and are more stable than wave-exposed sands, making them a more favorable environment for burrowing and for deposit-feeding organisms. These habitats are found in bays and inlets with relatively little wave action, and may be bordered at their upper edges by salt marshes. The shallow water fish fauna in these habitats provides food for seals and for a variety of local and migratory birds, including mew gulls, grebes, and great blue herons.