Fingringhoe Wick in October

A beautiful morning, warm, hazy sunshine, some high cirrus cloud – so I went for my October visit to Fingringhoe Wick.

I’d never been to the Lake Hide. So I put that right first thing!

The lake had lots of Teal and Tufted duck. I was just looking at a Teal drake through my binoculars, and thinking what neat, pretty little ducks they are . . . .  when there was a turquoise flash through my field of vision. A Kingfisher! It flew the whole length of the lake and disappeared behind the trees at the left hand end.  It’s the first one that I’ve seen at Fingringhoe, although I have seen others – including one in Cambridge Botanic Gardens, which seemed a very unlikely habitat!

The trees on the other side of the lake, mostly silver birch, are turning gold.

From the lake I went down to Margaret Hide.  On the rough grassy areas there were huge fungi –

And the shrubs along the edge of the inter-tidal area have turned the most amazing colour.

And a close up –

I have no idea what they are. (Martin – if you’re reading this – could this be the iconic shrubby sea-blight??)

The two very bird-y men came into Margaret Hide and very kindly helped me to identify the difference between a Whimbrel and a Curlew, and also pointed out a large flock of Golden Plover, which I had a look at through one of their telescopes.  I also saw a red shank and lots of black tailed godwits – which they called ‘black-wits’.

The trees on the other side of the river are just beginning to turn beautiful rich colours. I remember drawing them in February when they were just dark greys and browns. What a difference!

All over the reserve the wild rose hips, and the haws are thick. This bush beside the bridge above Margaret Hide was especially laden.

Then it was back to the Visitors Centre for my usual tea and cake. (Another unusual angle !)

When I left the reserve I stopped off at the Geedon Gallery to have a look at their Autumn Show. It is well worth a visit. I was particularly taken with a pastel landscape of a harvest field by Margaret Glass, and a small oil by John Stillman, ‘Wivenhoe’ – but they have lots of other lovely work, too. The exhibition is open daily until 22nd October, and then by appointment until 15th December. Have a look at their website and take a trip over if you’re in the area – www.geedongallery.co.uk 🙂