Coastal foredune system · Also known as: foredunes, primary dune ridge, dune scrub
The first sand ridge behind Ocean City’s ocean beach. American beachgrass, dusty miller, and the living armor that absorbs nor’easters.
Habitat guide for Ocean City & Assateague, Maryland · 68 Nature Guide species linked
| Habitat type | Dunes |
|---|---|
| Accessibility nearby | ★★★★★ |
| Related zones | Dunes, Ocean beach |
| Seasons (this coast) | year-round, spring, summer, fall |
| Best for | Beachgrass ecology, dune plants, ghost crabs, and nesting-shorebird awareness. |
| Species tags | Primary dunes; Ocean beach & surf |
| Access | View from marked beach crossings only; stay off fenced restoration dunes. |
| Parking | Same as ocean beach lots; Assateague lots for intact dune profiles. |
| Fees | Free to view from legal crossings; park fees at Assateague. |
| Region | Behind OC & Assateague ocean beaches |
| Role | Storm buffer and sand reservoir |
| Signature plants | American beachgrass, dusty miller, sea rocket |
| Wildlife notes | Ghost crabs, fence lizards, nesting shorebirds |
| Rule of thumb | Never cut new paths through grass |
| Pair with | Ocean beach habitat, Assateague parks |
Primary dunes are Ocean City’s first storm buffer—American beachgrass and other salt-tolerant plants trap sand that would otherwise blow inland toward hotels and Coastal Highway.
Foot traffic kills dune grass quickly. Use boardwalks and posted paths. Assateague shows healthier dune ridges if you want to see this habitat with fewer footprints.
Year-round structure; storm damage and replanting are most obvious after winter systems.
Nature Guide profiles tagged for this habitat around Ocean City and Assateague, Maryland. Likelihood stars reflect how often visitors can reasonably expect the species—not a guarantee for any single outing.
| Group | Species linked | Share of checklist |
|---|---|---|
| Birds | 15 | |
| Mammals | 8 | |
| Reptiles & amphibians | 7 | |
| Crustaceans | 3 | |
| Mollusks | 9 | |
| Other marine invertebrates | 11 | |
| Insects & arachnids | 7 | |
| Coastal plants | 8 | |
| Total | 68 | |
Full directory: Birds around Ocean City
| Species | Likelihood | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Boat-tailed Grackle Quiscalus major | ★★★★★ | year-round |
| Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, fall |
| Sanderling Calidris alba | ★★★★★ | migration, winter, spring, fall |
| Willet Tringa semipalmata | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, breeding, fall |
| American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round, breeding |
| Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis | ★★★★ ☆ | summer, fall, spring |
| Northern Gannet Morus bassanus | ★★★★ ☆ | winter, fall, spring |
| Northern Harrier Circus hudsonius | ★★★★ ☆ | winter, fall, spring |
| Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus | ★★★★ ☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres | ★★★★ ☆ | migration, spring, fall, winter |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata | ★★★★ ☆ | winter, fall, spring |
| Black Skimmer Rynchops niger | ★★★ ☆☆ | summer, breeding, fall |
| Least Tern Sternula antillarum | ★★★ ☆☆ | summer, breeding |
| Piping Plover Charadrius melodus | ★★★ ☆☆ | spring, summer, breeding |
| Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus | ★★ ☆☆☆ | migration, fall, spring, winter |
Full directory: Mammals around Ocean City
| Species | Likelihood | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Assateague Horse Equus caballus | ★★★★★ | year-round |
| Common Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, fall |
| Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| Raccoon Procyon lotor | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| Meadow Vole Microtus pennsylvanicus | ★★★ ☆☆ | year-round |
| Red Fox Vulpes vulpes | ★★★ ☆☆ | year-round |
| Harbor Seal Phoca vitulina | ★★ ☆☆☆ | winter, spring |
| Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae | ★★ ☆☆☆ | winter, spring, fall |
Full directory: Reptiles & amphibians around Ocean City
| Species | Likelihood | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene carolina | ★★★ ☆☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Eastern Ratsnake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | ★★★ ☆☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Fowler's Toad Anaxyrus fowleri | ★★★ ☆☆ | spring, summer |
| Eastern Hognose Snake Heterodon platirhinos | ★★ ☆☆☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta caretta | ★★ ☆☆☆ | summer, nesting, fall |
| Green Sea Turtle Chelonia mydas | ★ ☆☆☆☆ | summer, fall |
| Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Lepidochelys kempii | ★ ☆☆☆☆ | summer, fall |
Full directory: Crustaceans around Ocean City
| Species | Likelihood | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Ghost Crab Ocypode quadrata | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, fall |
| Atlantic Mole Crab Emerita talpoida | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, fall |
| Atlantic Horseshoe Crab Limulus polyphemus | ★★★★ ☆ | spring, summer, migration |
Full directory: Mollusks around Ocean City
| Species | Likelihood | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Coquina Clam Donax variabilis | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, fall |
| Hard Clam Mercenaria mercenaria | ★★★★★ | year-round |
| Atlantic Surfclam Spisula solidissima | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| Blue Mussel Mytilus edulis | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| Channeled Whelk Busycotypus canaliculatus | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| Knobbed Whelk Busycon carica | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| Northern Moon Snail Neverita duplicata | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| Atlantic Razor Clam Ensis leei | ★★★ ☆☆ | year-round |
| Atlantic Sea Scallop Placopecten magellanicus | ★★★ ☆☆ | year-round |
Full directory: Other marine invertebrates around Ocean City
| Species | Likelihood | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Sea Nettle Chrysaora chesapeakei | ★★★★★ | summer, fall |
| Moon Jelly Aurelia aurita | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, fall |
| Cannonball Jellyfish Stomolophus meleagris | ★★★★ ☆ | summer, fall |
| Clam Worm Alitta succinea | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| Five-holed Sand Dollar Mellita quinquiesperforata | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| Sea Walnut Mnemiopsis leidyi | ★★★★ ☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Atlantic Purple Sea Urchin Arbacia punctulata | ★★★ ☆☆ | year-round |
| Forbes' Sea Star Asterias forbesi | ★★★ ☆☆ | year-round |
| Red Beard Sponge Clathria prolifera | ★★★ ☆☆ | year-round |
| Sea Pansy Renilla reniformis | ★★★ ☆☆ | summer, fall |
| Portuguese Man o' War Physalia physalis | ★★ ☆☆☆ | summer, fall |
Full directory: Insects & arachnids around Ocean City
| Species | Likelihood | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Saltmarsh Mosquito Aedes sollicitans | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, fall |
| Monarch Danaus plexippus | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, fall, migration |
| American Dog Tick Dermacentor variabilis | ★★★★ ☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Blacklegged Tick Ixodes scapularis | ★★★★ ☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Greenhead Fly Tabanus nigrovittatus | ★★★★ ☆ | summer |
| Painted Lady Vanessa cardui | ★★★★ ☆ | spring, summer, fall, migration |
| Carolina Wolf Spider Hogna carolinensis | ★★★ ☆☆ | spring, summer, fall |
Full directory: Coastal plants around Ocean City
| Species | Likelihood | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| American Beachgrass Ammophila breviligulata | ★★★★★ | year-round |
| Sea Lettuce Ulva lactuca | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, fall |
| Marsh Elder Iva frutescens | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| Northern Bayberry Morella pensylvanica | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| Rockweed Fucus vesiculosus | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| Sea Rocket Cakile edentula | ★★★★ ☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Southern Wax Myrtle Morella cerifera | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| Dusty Miller Jacobaea maritima | ★★★ ☆☆ | spring, summer, fall |
Common questions for visitors exploring this habitat near Ocean City, Maryland.
Wildlife you may see nearby (copyright-free photos from Wikimedia Commons via our Nature Guide). The main page photo above stays separate.
Or drop several images onto this gallery
