Our favourite winter highlights at Sandscale

Sandscale Haws Mirrored beach — Winter beach at Sandscale Haws

Wrap up warm and blow away the cobwebs with a stroll along the beach and dunes at Sandscale Haws this winter. The beach is at its best when the waves are whipping up spray and the cool wind swirls sand around the air. It’s quiet in winter except for the calling of thousands of wading birds roosting on the sand.

For our rangers it's one of their favourite seasons. Here they have put together some winter highlights for you to enjoy at Sandscale.

It’s a magical experience to be out on the beach in winter. No two days are the same and no two tides are the same. Enjoy the wildness and the quiet and see how the beach can transform overnight.

Sandscale Haws and the Duddon Valley Estuary, nr Barrow in Furness, Cumbria

Look what the tide washed in. Winter storms can bring in an array of wildlife and objects. Mermaid’s purses will be scattered amongst the sea weed – these are egg sacks of fish like skates and rays or dogfish and catsharks. Shells like little pink tellin shells or mussels are often peppered across the sand and sometimes the winter storms prove too much for porpoises, seals and sea birds who sadly get washed up weak and battered.

Look at how the beach changes after a storm or high tide. Areas which would usually be dry are now completely flooded.

Sandscale Haws oystercatcher — Oystercatchers

You might feel like you’re alone on the beach in winter but the calls of the thousands of roosting wading birds remind you that the beach is busy with wildlife. Birds like dunlin, sanderling, oystercatcher, grey plover and knott sit in their hundreds and thousands along the strandline feeding on tasty morsels of food they can find in the wet sand. It’s amazing to stand and watch them fly up in the air as the tide washes in.

Sandscale Haws dunlin flock — Dunlin flock enjoying winter at Sandscale Haws

Even in winter the sunsets over Sandscale’s beach can be breath-taking as the watery, wintery sky is warmed up by the rays of the sun. Time it right before dusk and stroll along the beach. Often a sunset will come out of the cloudiest of days so if you’re a keen photographer be prepared!

Our favourite winter highlights at Sandscale

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Bustling with birds

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