Sandy Beach Russell island

At the Bottom end of Russell island is Sandy Beach. As the name suggests, the beach here is sand, not mud flats and here too there are mangroves growing in the sands.

When the tide is low, birds come to feast on the oysters and shellfish and small fish in the water. The rocks are thick with oysters…but if you want any you have to beat the oyster catchers who are always here first.

The mangroves are different here. There is no mud to adhere to, and the roots spread out over the sand. Closer to the shore, the mangroves are more prolific but the root system is a flat spread out root rather than the curved thick roots of the mangroves growing in the mud. Here too many small crabs call this area home and at sunrise and sunset you can see soldier crabs marching…