When the tide goes out on the Dapoli coast, the shore turns into a maze of black rocks and shallow pools. For the waders and egrets of the Konkan coast, this is a dining table. We spent a morning watching them fish, and these are the photographs.
Low Tide: When the Shore Comes Alive
As the sea pulls back, small fish, crabs and shrimps get trapped in the rock pools. The birds know this. Within minutes of the water dropping, waders and egrets spread out across the rocks, each taking its own pool.
How the Grey Waders Fish
The grey wader hardly moves. It stands at the edge of a pool, neck pulled in, staring at the water. Then, in a fraction of a second, the neck shoots out and the bill stabs the water. Most of the time it comes up with something. Watching one of them for ten minutes teaches you more patience than any photography book.
Some of these birds here are much darker, almost slate black. We saw one walking alone along the wet sand at the water’s edge.
Egrets: The White Hunters
The white egrets are more active. Instead of waiting, they walk slowly through the pool, sometimes stirring the water with a foot to flush out small fish, then strike.
Gulls on the Rocks
Further out, on the rocks the waves still reach, gulls rest in groups. A young gull, still brown and speckled, walked alone on the wet sand, its reflection perfect in the thin film of water.
Tips for Photographing Shore Birds at Dapoli
- Check the tide. Go one to two hours after high tide, as the water falls. The rock pools are busiest then.
- Go early. Soft morning light and fewer people on the beach.
- Stay low and still. Sit on a rock and let the birds come closer instead of walking towards them.
- Watch your footing. Wet rocks with algae are very slippery.
- Use a fast shutter speed (1/1000s or more) to freeze the strike.
More from Dapoli
Read about our two-day Dapoli trip from Mumbai, the Black-hooded Oriole at Keshavraj Temple and the egrets on the fishing boats.
Questions People Ask
Where can I see waders and egrets at Dapoli?
On the rocky parts of the shore at low tide, where rock pools trap small fish. Early morning is best.
What is the best time for birds on the Dapoli coast?
November to February, in the early morning, timed with a falling tide.