A trip to Essex on and around the River Blackwater.

Last week we went for a short break to Maldon in Essex for a trip along the Blackwater on an old Thames Sailing Barge (built in 1915).

We had a quick look at Abberton Reservoir on the way down and saw.

Pochards

Great Crested Grebes.

Lots of Brent Geese.

And Cormorants.

The trip on the Barge started early meeting at 6.30am.

Cloud on the horizon put paid to a classic sunrise but the clouds did thin as the sun came up.

First birds of the day, there were about 20 Little Egrets dotted about with the Cormorants in that area.

One unusual sighting, a Guillemot.

One of many Great Black-backed Gulls hanging out with the Cormorants.

A fly past of Brent Geese.

The GBG hanging out with Blacked-Tailed Godwits.

Black-Tailed and at least one Bar-Tailed Godwit.

Another old barge, this one with sail only power.

Common Seals, I think.

Red Breasted Mergansers.

Black-Headed Gulls with a shoal of fish to attack.

Heading back into sunset.

As in the morning, cloud on the horizon put paid to a spectacular sunset.

Maldon at dusk.

Then the skies cleared for a view on the Moon.

All in all a great day out on the Thames Barge with plenty of food and tea throughout the 12 hour day which seemed much shorter. As I expected, although there were plenty of birds the views were quite distant, but identifying them was easy as we were accompanied on the trip by two bird experts as part of the package .Other birds seen but too far away for the camera were Grey and Golden Plovers and some others I can't recall now.

The next day we went to Bradwell-on-sea and walked along the river there.

Little Egret having great success fishing

Rock Pipits or Water Pipits? I have asked Robbo and he's not sure, only that they're not Meadow Pipits. Anybody else any ideas?

One of many Linnets.

Our first ever Clouded Yellow.

Another Water/Rock Pipit

And finally, a photo friendly Dunnock

Then it was back home to Suffolk.

Best Wishes,

Trevor