![]() ![]() Some of these small shorebirds migrate from the Arctic to South America and the Cape's beaches are like gas stations for refueling on a long highway. In late summer through early fall, thousands shorebirds, such as sanderlings and whimbrels can be seen along the beach, probing the sand between the tides for interstitial organisms. Reptiles including the hog-nosed snake make their home in the thick grasses of the back dune, where there is ample supply of Fowler's toads, their food of choice. In late summer, the south-bound migration of monarch butterflies, which feeds on nectar, is synchronized with the flowering of seaside goldenrod on Cape Cod beaches. Many other winged visitors depend on the Cape's wild beaches for survival, including ground-nesting birds such as the least tern and horned lark, as well as insects like the tiger beetle and butterflies. ![]() For example, the seeds from the dusty miller are a welcomed food source for the American goldfinch in late summer. Beach plants provide food and cover for wildlife. They blanket the back beach and dunes, trapping wind-blown sand and hugging the sand grains beneath the surface with their extensive root systems. Photo by Naomi Blinick Plants like American beachgrass, dusty miller, sea rocket, and seaside goldenrod are important parts of the upper beach ecosystem. Because wrack often contains root fragments of American beachgrass, this mix of wrack and sand often forms "embryonic dunes", which can lead to the establishment of larger, more permanent dunes.īeach vegetation at Cape Cod National Seashore Along with natural driftwood, wrack traps wind-blown sand. Wrack also plays an important role in the maintenance and growth of the beach and dunes. Like the surf-casters that reel in stripers - all these Cape Codders are getting nutrition and energy from the ocean. Amphipods and fly larva shred the "wrack" and piping plover chicks learn to dart along the wrack line feeding on flies and beetles. Wrack supports numerous species of invertebrates. Wrack is a mix of marine plants ("seaweed") and salt marsh plants ("thatch"), deposited on the beach by high tides, especially those associated with full and new moons. Some may resist desiccation by sealing up a tough outer shell or carapace like a clam others avoid exposure by burrowing down to wet sand until the tide returns.Ībove the tide line, the beach is a transition zone from marine to terrestrial systems, powered in large part by the energy contained in "wrack". Sand-dwelling organisms in mid-and upper-tidal areas are adapted to cope with shorter periods of inundation by sea water. Very small nematodes (simple worms), copepods (tiny crustaceans), and other invertebrates live in the space between sand grains of the lower intertidal zone. The inhabitants of the beach are linked by their intimate relationship with the ocean's waves and tides. But others depend exclusively on beaches for their survival. Some of these species are wide ranging, and include the beach as one of many habitats they use. What many people may not be aware of is that these beaches are important ecosystems that support a wide variety of plants and animals, many of which blend in with the environment and are often overlooked. Visitors are drawn to the many recreational opportunities the beach has to offer, such as walking, swimming and relaxing under an umbrella on a hot summer day. these campgrounds are an inexpensive place to stay within earshot of the crashing waves of the atlantic ocean.Most visitors will agree that Cape Cod National Seashore has some of the most beautiful sandy beaches on the east coast. There are several dog-friendly campgrounds in north truro that provide walking access to both head of the meadow beach and coast guard road beach. Head of the Meadow Beach: nearby attractions in Truro camping near head of the meadow beach and coast guard road beach in north truro When Head of the Meadow does get shut down due to piping plovers your best bet is to check out the nearby National Seashore beaches to see if they’re still allowing dogs: Marconi Beach, Race Point Beach, and Head of the Meadow Beach. To check current beach restrictions for dogs, visit the National Seashore’s dogs info page. Nearly every year Head of the Meadow beach access is severely restricted and then eventually closed to pets in the summer. ![]() Tickets are given to violators, so be aware.
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