Intertidal mudflat / sandflat · Also known as: mudflats, sandflats, low-tide flats
Exposed bay bottom at low tide. Shorebirds probe mud, crab tracks mark the flats, and the coastal bays go mirror-still.
Habitat guide for Ocean City & Assateague, Maryland · 68 Nature Guide species linked
| Habitat type | Salt marsh & flats |
|---|---|
| Accessibility nearby | ★★★★☆ |
| Related zones | Salt marsh & flats, Coastal bays, Inlet & channel |
| Seasons (this coast) | year-round, spring, fall, migration |
| Best for | Shorebirds probing mud, horseshoe crabs, clam flats, migration stopovers. |
| Species tags | Coastal bays; Salt marsh |
| Access | Visible at low tide from bay edges, overlooks, and by kayak; soft mud can trap ankles. |
| Parking | Bay parks, Assateague approaches, West OC. |
| Fees | Free at public overlooks; park fees if entering Assateague. |
| Appears at | Low tide on bay & marsh edges |
| Signature wildlife | Willets, oystercatchers, horseshoe crabs |
| Food web role | Critical shorebird stopover habitat |
| Safety | Soft mud, rapid tide return |
| Gear | Binoculars / spotting scope from firm ground |
| Pair with | Salt marsh, coastal bays, Assateague bay side |
Tidal flats are the Coastal Bays’ pantry—exposed sand and mud at low tide packed with worms, clams, and films that fuel migrating shorebirds.
From Ocean City, scan flats after the tide drops along marsh edges and bay shallows. Bring binoculars; walking onto soft flats is risky and can disturb feeding birds. Shoulder-season low tides are prime.
Migration makes flats essential; midsummer mid-day can be quieter for shorebirds.
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 | 9 | |
| Reptiles & amphibians | 5 | |
| Crustaceans | 6 | |
| Mollusks | 9 | |
| Other marine invertebrates | 8 | |
| Insects & arachnids | 9 | |
| Coastal plants | 7 | |
| Total | 68 | |
Full directory: Birds around Ocean City
| Species | Likelihood | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Boat-tailed Grackle Quiscalus major | ★★★★★ | year-round |
| Double-crested Cormorant Nannopterum auritum | ★★★★★ | year-round, migration |
| Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias | ★★★★★ | year-round |
| Great Egret Ardea alba | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, fall |
| Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, fall |
| Osprey Pandion haliaetus | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, fall, breeding |
| Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, breeding |
| Willet Tringa semipalmata | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, breeding, fall |
| American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round, breeding |
| Brant Branta bernicla | ★★★★ ☆ | winter, fall, spring |
| Northern Harrier Circus hudsonius | ★★★★ ☆ | winter, fall, spring |
| Snowy Egret Egretta thula | ★★★★ ☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus | ★★★ ☆☆ | year-round, winter |
| Black Skimmer Rynchops niger | ★★★ ☆☆ | summer, breeding, fall |
| Clapper Rail Rallus crepitans | ★★★ ☆☆ | year-round, summer |
Full directory: Mammals around Ocean City
| Species | Likelihood | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Assateague Horse Equus caballus | ★★★★★ | year-round |
| Common Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, fall |
| Raccoon Procyon lotor | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| Sika Deer Cervus nippon | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| Little Brown Bat Myotis lucifugus | ★★★ ☆☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Meadow Vole Microtus pennsylvanicus | ★★★ ☆☆ | year-round |
| Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus | ★★★ ☆☆ | year-round |
| North American River Otter Lontra canadensis | ★★ ☆☆☆ | year-round |
Full directory: Reptiles & amphibians around Ocean City
| Species | Likelihood | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Diamondback Terrapin Malaclemys terrapin terrapin | ★★★★ ☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Eastern Ratsnake Pantherophis alleghaniensis | ★★★ ☆☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Green Treefrog Hyla cinerea | ★★★ ☆☆ | spring, summer |
| Northern Watersnake Nerodia sipedon | ★★★ ☆☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Southern Leopard Frog Lithobates sphenocephalus | ★★★ ☆☆ | spring, summer, fall |
Full directory: Crustaceans around Ocean City
| Species | Likelihood | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Marsh Fiddler Crab Minuca pugnax | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, fall |
| Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, fall |
| Atlantic Horseshoe Crab Limulus polyphemus | ★★★★ ☆ | spring, summer, migration |
| Brown Shrimp Farfantepenaeus aztecus | ★★★ ☆☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| White Shrimp Litopenaeus setiferus | ★★★ ☆☆ | summer, fall |
| Mantis Shrimp Squilla empusa | ★★ ☆☆☆ | spring, summer, fall |
Full directory: Mollusks around Ocean City
| Species | Likelihood | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Oyster Crassostrea virginica | ★★★★★ | year-round |
| Hard Clam Mercenaria mercenaria | ★★★★★ | 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 |
| Soft-shell Clam Mya arenaria | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| Atlantic Razor Clam Ensis leei | ★★★ ☆☆ | year-round |
| Longfin Squid Doryteuthis pealeii | ★★★ ☆☆ | spring, summer, fall, migration |
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 |
| Clam Worm Alitta succinea | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| Sea Walnut Mnemiopsis leidyi | ★★★★ ☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Atlantic Purple Sea Urchin Arbacia punctulata | ★★★ ☆☆ | year-round |
| Forbes' Sea Star Asterias forbesi | ★★★ ☆☆ | year-round |
| Orange-striped Anemone Diadumene lineata | ★★★ ☆☆ | year-round |
| Red Beard Sponge Clathria prolifera | ★★★ ☆☆ | year-round |
Full directory: Insects & arachnids around Ocean City
| Species | Likelihood | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Common Green Darner Anax junius | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, fall, migration |
| Eastern Saltmarsh Mosquito Aedes sollicitans | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, fall |
| Monarch Danaus plexippus | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, fall, migration |
| Black and Yellow Garden Spider Argiope aurantia | ★★★★ ☆ | summer, fall |
| Blacklegged Tick Ixodes scapularis | ★★★★ ☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Papilio glaucus | ★★★★ ☆ | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sea Lettuce Ulva lactuca | ★★★★★ | spring, summer, fall |
| Smooth Cordgrass Sporobolus alterniflorus | ★★★★★ | year-round |
| Eelgrass Zostera marina | ★★★★ ☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Glasswort Salicornia | ★★★★ ☆ | spring, summer, fall |
| Loblolly Pine Pinus taeda | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| Marsh Elder Iva frutescens | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
| Southern Wax Myrtle Morella cerifera | ★★★★ ☆ | year-round |
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
