UK Local Habitat

Estuary 🌊

Where freshwater rivers meet the salty sea, creating nutrient-rich mudflats that support thousands of wading birds.

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Climate & Environment

Variable salinity (saltiness) that changes twice a day with the tides.

Saltmarsh grasses and samphire that can tolerate being flooded with saltwater.

Estuaries are sometimes called the 'nurseries of the sea' because many fish lay their eggs there.
The mud can be so thick and sticky it acts like quicksand.

Uses its long, curved beak to probe deep into the mud for worms.

A flatfish that buries itself in the mud to hide from predators.

Can change its body chemistry to survive in both fresh river water and salty ocean water.

Has a strong, flattened beak specifically designed to pry open the shells of cockles and mussels.

An expert diving bird that hunts underwater and then stands with its wings spread to dry them in the wind.

KS2 / ScienceY6

Living things and their habitats