Even the Best Laid Plans
30th April 2020
Following up on my drive to make use of our Wildlife Trust Membership, spent quite a bit of time planning for a visit to Fingerinhoe Wick. This reserve is on the Colne Estuary and over the winter months Avocets, Redshanks, Sanderlings, Geese and other congregate in numbers. The Wick was the Trust’s first reserve created over 40 years ago when it inherited the area following the cessation of gravel extraction.
The Saltmarsh and Estuary is home to over 200 species of birds across the year, and following the initial excursion to Abberton set about planning for the visit. Tide times all checked, according to the wardens the best time for the waders is 2 hours before and after high tide; weather also checked to ensure no gale force conditions; camera and lenses collected and set off with the ambition to photograph some of the waders from the hides on the shore line as the tide nudged them in my direction.
The tide gradually came in, and the tide gradually went out, the shutter pressed on just a couple of occasions for a fleeting fly by of Brent Geese, but alas very little decided to present themselves close enough to the hides. Moving hides yielded no improvement on the day. Even the best made plans……
Despite this, there were some smaller birds (non waders) taking advantage of the feeding station close to the visitor centre, and therefore didn’t leave completely bereft, and I was quietly pleased with the image which accompanies this little piece. Look out for an update when I return.
The Saltmarsh and Estuary is home to over 200 species of birds across the year, and following the initial excursion to Abberton set about planning for the visit. Tide times all checked, according to the wardens the best time for the waders is 2 hours before and after high tide; weather also checked to ensure no gale force conditions; camera and lenses collected and set off with the ambition to photograph some of the waders from the hides on the shore line as the tide nudged them in my direction.
The tide gradually came in, and the tide gradually went out, the shutter pressed on just a couple of occasions for a fleeting fly by of Brent Geese, but alas very little decided to present themselves close enough to the hides. Moving hides yielded no improvement on the day. Even the best made plans……
Despite this, there were some smaller birds (non waders) taking advantage of the feeding station close to the visitor centre, and therefore didn’t leave completely bereft, and I was quietly pleased with the image which accompanies this little piece. Look out for an update when I return.