Orkney’s natural20 Westray – Grobust and Sand o’ Gill near Pierowall 21 Rousay – Saviskaill...
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find out more about our rich and varied wildlife Newark Bay Bay of Lopness, Sanday cover images: top Dingieshowe bottom dunes at Dingieshowe Orkney’s natural heritage Orkney’s natural heritage Orkney’s Orkney’s sandy shores sandy shores shell sand Europe and Scotland Making it work together photography: SNH, RSPB, Richard Welsby design and illustration: Iain Ashman please remember be safe on the shore Look carefully amongst seaweed Lift stones and look underneath – but always replace rocks in the same position and the same way up Sit quietly and watch Life on the shore is fascinating to look at, but we also need to treat it with respect Watch shorelife without disturbing it If you really want a closer look, collect one animal carefully and place in a bucket of seawater for a short time only Return sea creatures to the spot where you found them Don’t pull shells like limpets off the rocks Protect animal’s homes. If you lift rocks or move seaweeds, replace them carefully the way you found them Don’t pull seaweeds off the rocks, there is usually loose weed around Don’t take creatures home in a bucket, they won’t live long Only take home empty shells Leave bird corpses on the beach, they are counted in a monthly beached bird survey Take care on slippery rocks and seaweed Be aware of the incoming tide Watch out for waves Flotsam and jetsam washed up on the beach can be dangerous – leave well alone To take care on cliffs - they can be dangerous To avoid disturbing nesting birds To keep dogs under control at all times To take your litter home with you Not to pick wild flowers Respect private property
Transcript of Orkney’s natural20 Westray – Grobust and Sand o’ Gill near Pierowall 21 Rousay – Saviskaill...
find out more about ourrich and varied wildlife
Newark Bay
Bay of Lopness, Sanday
cove
r im
ag
es:
to
p D
ing
iesh
ow
e
b
ott
om
du
nes a
t D
ing
iesh
ow
e
Orkney’snaturalheritageOrkney’snaturalheritage
Orkney’snaturalheritageOrkney’snaturalheritage
Orkney’ssandyshoressandyshoresshell sand
Europe and ScotlandMaking it work together
photo
gra
phy:
SN
H, R
SPB, R
ich
ard
Wels
by d
esig
n a
nd illust
rati
on: Ia
in A
shm
an
pleaseremember
be safeon the shore
Look carefully amongst seaweedLift stones and look underneath – but alwaysreplace rocks in the same position and the sameway upSit quietly and watch
Life on the shore is fascinating to look at, butwe also need to treat it with respectWatch shorelife without disturbing itIf you really want a closer look, collect one animal carefully and place in a bucket of seawater for a short time onlyReturn sea creatures to the spot where you found themDon’t pull shells like limpets off the rocksProtect animal’s homes. If you lift rocks or move seaweeds, replace them carefully the way you found themDon’t pull seaweeds off the rocks, there is usually loose weed aroundDon’t take creatures home in a bucket, theywon’t live longOnly take home empty shellsLeave bird corpses on the beach, they are counted in a monthly beached bird survey
Take care on slippery rocks and seaweedBe aware of the incoming tideWatch out for wavesFlotsam and jetsam washed up on the beach can be dangerous – leave well alone
To take care on cliffs - they can be dangerousTo avoid disturbing nesting birdsTo keep dogs under control at all timesTo take your litter home with youNot to pick wild flowersRespect private property
oysterplant
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
At first sight a sandy bay can look rather empty oflife. It rarely is though, if you know where to look.Most of the animals of the sandy shore hide belowthe surface by burrowing in the sand. At low tidethis is how they protect themselves from dryingout, from predators and from heat or frost.On a very exposed shore there is very little lifebecause the sand particles are continually groundtogether by the waves. More sheltered beaches cansupport a greater variety of burrowing animals andthere is plenty of organic matter (derived fromdead animals and seaweed) for them to feed on.
Many worms, such as lugworms, also live in thesand and have a similar mechanism for feeding.Look out for worm casts on the surface as evidenceof worms living down below in the sand.The burrowing animals have many predators onthe beach. The voracious burrowing starfish eatsmolluscs and worms whole, while the carnivorousnecklace shell dissolves neat holes in bivalveshells to reach the soft insides. Waders frequentthe beach, using their bills to probe in the sandand at very low spring tides many people in Orkneydig for spoots.
A number of flowering plantshave learnt to cope with livingin sandy soil and with saltladen winds. Plants such assea rocket and the rareoysterplant have thick leatheryleaves to help them survivein these maritime conditions. Plants such asmarram and lyme grass are very important forthe stabilisation of sand dunes. The sandy ‘links’,common behind beaches in Orkney often supportan attractive display of wild flowers, such asheart’s ease pansy and bird’s foot trefoil.
Many birds visit the sandy shore for feeding androosting. Flocks of waders avoid direct competitionfor food because of the varied lengths of theirbills, which means they eat different kinds of preyat different depths in the sand. Long-billedoystercatcher and curlew use their bills to probedeeply in the sand for burrowing molluscs andworms. The shorter billed redshank and dunlinfeed nearer the surface, while ringed plovers feedon the surface and turnstone peck along thestrandline. Sanderling feed at the tide’s edge andare easy to identify as they run up and down thebeach following the waves. Flocks of gulls feedand roost on the beach; herring gulls scavengingalong the high tide line and black-headed gullsfeeding in shallow pools left behind by theoutgoing tide.
The strandline on a sandyshore, where seaweedand other debris iswashed up, is a goodplace for findingempty shells. Notjust the burrowingbivalves that live onthe beach but also shells,such as cowries, fromdifferent types of shore.Other interesting findsinclude cuttlefish ‘bones’which are really theinternal shells of thisrelative of the octopusand the ‘mermaid’spurse’ which is the homeof the very young dogfishbefore it is ready to swimfree. The main creatureliving in the strandline isthe sandhopper.
redshank
cuttlefishbone
worm casts
sandy shore North Ronaldsay
life ona sandyshore
Seashells from the group of animalscalled bivalve molluscs are the mostcommon creatures on sandy shores.These include shells such as cockles andrazor shells (spoots). They burrow intothe sand and then extend long tubescalled siphons to the surface for feedingand breathing. They suck in sand andwater, extract the edible parts and pumpout anything inedible.
sandhopper
tower shell
cowrie
flatwinkle
mermaid’spurse
whelkegg
cases
Westray
Papa WestrayNorth Ronaldsay
Sanday
Eday Stronsay
Shapinsay
Rousay
HoyFlotta Burray
South Ronaldsay
CopinsayLamb HolmGlimps Holm
Graemsay
Egilsay
Wyre
Eynhallow
Swona
StromnessKirkwall
Gairsay
Mainland
Auskerry
Sand and RockMany of the sandy beaches
mentioned in this leaflet also have rockyareas – see our ‘Rocky Shores’ leaflet to find
out about life on the rocky shore.
5 Evie Sands – HY 376 264 – very good shellbeach. Look out for Faroese sunset shell, tower shelland ‘grottie buckie’ (cowrie). Access – use accessroad to the Broch of Gurness, limited parking in laybynear the beach, or park at the Broch.
6 Scapa Bay – HY 440 088 – sandy beach close toKirkwall. Access – parking adjacent to beach, toilets,.picnic area. Also cliff walk from west end of bay.
7 Inganess Bay – HY 475 087 – another beachclose to Kirkwall Access – parking adjacent to thebeach, picnic area, also a footpath through wetlandsand along a burn.
8 Newark Bay – HY 571 042 – south facing bay inDeerness. Access – car park close to beach, picnicarea. Also coastal path to Aikerskaill.
9 Dingieshowe & St Peter’s Pool – HY 548 0342 bays on each side of a narrow isthmus. Dingieshoweis sandy and backed by sand dunes, while St Peter’sPool is muddier, with lots of bivalve shells and teemingwith wading birds at low tide. Access – car parkadjacent to beach, toilets.
10 Glimps Holm – HY 474 987 – steeply shelvingbeach close to the third Barrier. Good view of blockships. Access – parking area close to beach ateach end.
on the mainland
1 Brough of Birsay – HY 243 284 – a mixture ofsand and rock and a causeway to the Brough make thisan excellent shore to visit. Many shells get washed upbelow the Brough, look for grottie buckies (cowries)here. Access – parking adjacent to the beach, picnicarea.
2 Skaill, Sandwick – HY 235 194 – wide sandy baynear Skara Brae. Access – car park close to the beach,toilets, disabled parking and toilets, top of beach haslarge pebbles to walk over.
3 Warebeth – HY 234 086 – sandy and rocky beachnear Stromness. Access – track along the shore fromStromness, or car park close to the beach. Toilets.
4 Waulkmill Bay – HY 381 065 – gently shelvingbeach, good for swimming. Look out for potato urchinsand colourful thin tellins. Salt marsh at the back of thebeach. Access – 2 parking areas, one with steeps stepsdown to the shore, the other a narrow path.
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sanderling
marram grass
striped ven us
curlew
oys tercatcher
tu rnstone
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cockle Fa
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heart ’s
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bird’s foot trefoil
11 Fourth Barrier Beach – ND 479 953 – extensivesand spit at low tide, steeply shelving, blockships.Access – car park close to beach, toilets.
12 Sands of Wright – ND 424 935 – a sandy beachto explore in South Ronaldsay. Access – parking,picnic area and toilets close to the beach.
on the isles
13 Hoy – Rackwick is a beautiful beach noted alsofor its colourful stones
14 Shapinsay – Veantrow Bay and Bay of Sandgarth
15 Stronsay – 3 large sandy bays give Stronsay itsshape, all are worth visiting - Rothiesholm or BuSands, St Catherine’s Bay and Mill Sands. Rothiesholmis very good for shells.
16 Sanday – this island lives up to its name and hasnumerous lovely sandy bays. Some of the best andmost easily accessible are: Backaskaill, Tresness andNewark, Lopness and Whitemill Bay.
17 Eday – Sands of Doomy and Mussetter and theBay of London
18 North Ronaldsay – Nouster Bay and Linklet Bay
19 Papa Westray – North and South Wick, whitesand bays and good places to see seals
20 Westray – Grobust and Sand o’ Gill near Pierowall
21 Rousay – Saviskaill Beach is a sheltered bay witha nearby seal haul-out site.
find out more about ourrich and varied wildlife
Newark Bay
Bay of Lopness, Sanday
cove
r imag
es: to
p D
ing
iesh
ow
e b
otto
m d
un
es a
t Din
gie
sh
ow
e
Orkney’snaturalheritageOrkney’snaturalheritage
Orkney’snaturalheritageOrkney’snaturalheritage
Orkney’ssandyshoressandyshores
shell sand
Europe and ScotlandMaking it work together
photo
grap
hy: S
NH
, RSPB, R
ichard
Welsb
y d
esign an
d illu
stration: Ia
in A
shm
an
pleaseremember
be safeon the shore
Look carefully amongst seaweedLift stones and look underneath – but alwaysreplace rocks in the same position and the sameway upSit quietly and watch
Life on the shore is fascinating to look at, butwe also need to treat it with respectWatch shorelife without disturbing itIf you really want a closer look, collect one animal carefully and place in a bucket of seawater for a short time onlyReturn sea creatures to the spot where you found themDon’t pull shells like limpets off the rocksProtect animal’s homes. If you lift rocks or move seaweeds, replace them carefully the way you found themDon’t pull seaweeds off the rocks, there is usually loose weed aroundDon’t take creatures home in a bucket, theywon’t live longOnly take home empty shellsLeave bird corpses on the beach, they are counted in a monthly beached bird survey
Take care on slippery rocks and seaweedBe aware of the incoming tideWatch out for wavesFlotsam and jetsam washed up on the beach can be dangerous – leave well alone
To take care on cliffs - they can be dangerousTo avoid disturbing nesting birdsTo keep dogs under control at all timesTo take your litter home with youNot to pick wild flowersRespect private property
oysterplant
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
life ona sandyshore
At first sight a sandy bay can look rather empty oflife. It rarely is though, if you know where to look.Most of the animals of the sandy shore hide belowthe surface by burrowing in the sand. At low tidethis is how they protect themselves from dryingout, from predators and from heat or frost.On a very exposed shore there is very little lifebecause the sand particles are continually groundtogether by the waves. More sheltered beaches cansupport a greater variety of burrowing animals andthere is plenty of organic matter (derived fromdead animals and seaweed) for them to feed on.
Many worms, such as lugworms, also live in thesand and have a similar mechanism for feeding.Look out for worm casts on the surface as evidenceof worms living down below in the sand.The burrowing animals have many predators onthe beach. The voracious burrowing starfish eatsmolluscs and worms whole, while the carnivorousnecklace shell dissolves neat holes in bivalveshells to reach the soft insides. Waders frequentthe beach, using their bills to probe in the sandand at very low spring tides many people in Orkneydig for spoots.
A number of flowering plantshave learnt to cope with livingin sandy soil and with saltladen winds. Plants such assea rocket and the rareoysterplant have thick leatheryleaves to help them survivein these maritime conditions. Plants such asmarram and lyme grass are very important forthe stabilisation of sand dunes. The sandy ‘links’,common behind beaches in Orkney often supportan attractive display of wild flowers, such asheart’s ease pansy and bird’s foot trefoil.
Many birds visit the sandy shore for feeding androosting. Flocks of waders avoid direct competitionfor food because of the varied lengths of theirbills, which means they eat different kinds of preyat different depths in the sand. Long-billedoystercatcher and curlew use their bills to probedeeply in the sand for burrowing molluscs andworms. The shorter billed redshank and dunlinfeed nearer the surface, while ringed plovers feedon the surface and turnstone peck along thestrandline. Sanderling feed at the tide’s edge andare easy to identify as they run up and down thebeach following the waves. Flocks of gulls feedand roost on the beach; herring gulls scavengingalong the high tide line and black-headed gullsfeeding in shallow pools left behind by theoutgoing tide.
The strandline on a sandyshore, where seaweedand other debris iswashed up, is a goodplace for findingempty shells. Notjust the burrowingbivalves that live onthe beach but also shells,such as cowries, fromdifferent types of shore.Other interesting findsinclude cuttlefish ‘bones’which are really theinternal shells of thisrelative of the octopusand the ‘mermaid’spurse’ which is the homeof the very young dogfishbefore it is ready to swimfree. The main creatureliving in the strandline isthe sandhopper.
redshank
cuttlefishbone
worm casts
sandy shore North Ronaldsay
life ona sandyshore
Seashells from the group of animalscalled bivalve molluscs are the mostcommon creatures on sandy shores.These include shells such as cockles andrazor shells (spoots). They burrow intothe sand and then extend long tubescalled siphons to the surface for feedingand breathing. They suck in sand andwater, extract the edible parts and pumpout anything inedible.
sandhopper
tower shell
cowrie
flatwinkle
mermaid’spurse
whelkegg
cases
