I headed over to Rottingdean beach today. The main area was crowded, but the tide was out so I headed along to the rock pools. Families were out with nets and buckets searching for sea life. I moved further along the shore to where the sea birds were gathering.
A small flock of black-headed gulls were settled in among the rocks, and as I approached I noticed that mixed in with them were a couple of sandwich terns. I don't see these often, but they do seem to like to mix with the smaller gulls. I made my way out over the rocks. The sun had dried out the seaweed (so it wasn't slippery), so with care I reached a decent viewing point and settled down to watch.
After a few minutes, the terns decided to move on. They made a couple of short hops along the shore. I followed.
On the wing
They settled again, and I made may way out far enough across the rock pools to have a good line of sight from a small rocky mound. It was just large enough to take the camera bag (which I used to support the camera) and allow me to squat down.
I was paying too much attention to the birds. I'd had to adjust the camera bag a couple of time as it had slipped, leaving the straps dangling in the sea water. I thought nothing of it. Maybe I should have been looking at the water level. This shot was taken several minutes are the previous one. That young tern is in danger of getting wet feet.
And several minute later… Yes, the tern decides it's far too wet here and decides it's time to go.
With the terns moving off, I looked around. 'Oh dear,' I thought… (possibly in slightly less polite language). I was sure there had been a path out here. Where's it gone? All I could see behind me for 20 yards or so was water. It wasn't deep, but it had been bone dry on the way out and it was now thoroughly submerged. There was nothing for it but to wade back. I packed the camera safely away (I was at least sensible enough to minimize the risk of it getting a soaking). The water wasn't too deep, and I got back to dry land safely enough with just a pair wet boots for my trouble. That got me to a part of the beach just in front of the sea wall. The tide comes in all the way here, and at high tide it's deep. Really deep. So I needed to get back to the top.
I knew there were steps back towards the main area, but instead I headed in the other direction to where some people with a dog were still out enjoying the sunshine. I was looking for steps that would take me back up to the cliff path that runs at the top of the sea wall. Mistake number two. They hadn't used steps… they'd climbed down. There was probably enough time for me to head back in the other direction to where I know there are steps (at worst I would have had to paddle a few times), but I gave it a go and clambered the 20 feet or so up the rocks to safety. I made it up easily enough, but it was sufficiently awkward to make me wonder what the heck I was doing. On the way back along the cliff walk I took a shot of where I'd been about 15 minutes earlier. You can see the problem I could have had if I hadn't moved away when I did.
Submerged rock pools
And if I hadn't moved, I'm sure these guys would have saved me…
There's a simple lesson here… "When out watching terns on the tide, watch out for the tide that turns."
Camera note: all shots taken with the EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens (some with a Kenko Teleplus 1.4x Pro 300 DG teleconverter).
Cynthia23
17 Aug 2009Nice day you share, Words, thanks! Beautiful photography, as always! :up:
Dudley
17 Aug 2009Those photos are worth a pair of wet boots :up:
Any longer, well,…I hope your camera bag floats this way :p 😆
sprogger
17 Aug 2009Great shots, I particularly like the calling one :up:
gdare
17 Aug 2009"When out watching terns on the tide, watch out for the tide that turns."
:yes: 😀
Words
17 Aug 2009Andy, it was a tiny bit foolhardy not to keep a closer eye on things, but to be honest I's assumed the tide was going out :doh:
Words
17 Aug 2009Cynthia, thanks!
SittingFox
17 Aug 2009Wow, at least that's one problem that we don't often have in Surrey! :left:
Anyway, wonderful shots of the terns (I've never seen this species) and next time I hope you and your camera wear a lifejacket! Glad things are no worse…
Words
17 Aug 2009Darko, the other one is of course 'Don't forget your parachute!' 😀
Words
17 Aug 2009Sprogger, I like that one too. I love the extra colour it snaps into the shot.
Words
17 Aug 2009Adele, no real danger, but I did feel a bit foolish. Lesson learned, without any harm. The terns are odd the way they seem to integrate with the black-headed gulls. I've never seen them on their own as it were.
Ukwildlife
18 Aug 2009Woops. Well you managed to get the photos and get out safely so n o harm done. great photos btw
Words
18 Aug 2009Cheers Neil! Went back today, but didn't see anything interesting.
annoushkiss
19 Aug 2009Lol! What a story!!! You are a real artist, Words, see nothing when shooting… :p Anyway you've got wonderful pictures and the pair of wet boots was a kind of a tax for them 😉
Words
19 Aug 2009Anna, thanks! I'm usually quite careful, but when an unusual creature appears I seem to get lost in the moment. At least the birds had the intelligence to move 😆
Flying Red Fox Blog
21 Aug 2009Wow you nearly got cut off by the tide! :no: we cant let that happen to Words! Yes good lesson learned, the beach has many hidden dangers but so beautiful to explore. 😀
Words
21 Aug 2009Mark, it was a bit careless of me, but I don't think I was ever in more danger than getting a bit wet! Useful lesson though 😉