High Tide at Fingringhoe Wick

8th August 2025

This is very early in the season to visit a high tide roost at Fingringhoe, although the alterior motive was to try and photograph the summer plumage Grey Plovers that have been seen recently.

It must be about 10 years now since the inter-tidal area was developed and in those days it was well profiled with many islands and spits for the waders to gather and roost on. Now after 10 years of two tides per day erosion has taken its toll with the whole area being much flatter with very few islands keeping their heads above water at high tide. This makes photography more difficult as when the islands get covered the birds move to the far bank by the river, a distance of 200 yards from Margaret's Hide.

What was also noticeable today was the absence of small waders so no Ringed Plovers or Dunlin and primarily only the larger species such as Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits and Greenshank. There were also Redshanks about but always out of camere range.

Avocets were represented by a single flock of some 50 birds.

They were very settled until something spooked the lot and all took to the air until the perceived threat had passed.

There were about 200 Black-tailed Godwits gathered on their now disappearing islands, nearly all still in their breeding plumage.

This small group were in a dilemma as they all wanted to move to higher ground, but were waiting for one of them to decide where to go.

One of the advantages of inceasing water levels is that it results in movement between the islands providing some opportunities for flight shots.

But one of the best bits at Fingringhoe even at this time of year are the roosting Greenshanks. This is just part of a flock of 30 birds.

So did I see any summer-plumaged Grey Plovers? Yes lots of them but unfortunately they were all on the far bank. It was only when I was going through my photos I realised I had actually captured five birds in a group of godwits.

Here is the Grey Plover four birds from the left enlarged.