Marine, intertidal, sand, exposed, eulittoral

Pure marine sands without significant silt or organic content are found only in high and moderately-high energy areas such as on the outer coast and in the Straits of Juan de Fuca. They tend to be erosional beaches, are well-drained, and moderately sloped. Due to their unstable nature, they have no permanent vegetation and are low-diversity habitats, although a few species may be abundant. These areas are used extensively by loons, scoters, and grebes at high tide, and by gulls, sanderling and other sandpipers, and herons at low tide.