Birdwatching from Thames Barge Hydrogen

 On Sunday, I joined a small group of birdwatchers for a trip up the River Colne to Wivenhoe observing the numerous birds that frequent the mud banks and saltmarshes. The weather was overcast most of the time so difficult for photography but I was pleased to record most of the species we saw. The Avocets were the stars with large flocks in several areas. Ducks included Wigeon and Shelduck, Brent Geese were not as numerous as I expected and then there were the Waders - first image Curlew and three Knot, followed by Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit (Bar-tailed also seen), Redshank and Dunlin. A Cormorant using a convenient perch, single Oystercatcher, immature Gull in flight and the star for many - a Peregrine disobeying the rules (another was seen catching a wader in the distance) completed the line-up.

Sailing onThames Barge from Ipswich to Felixstowe

Whenever I can, I like to record areas as they appear now so that I can look back and, hopefully, forward to see changes in areas. So here a log of images from the trip up the Orwell from Ipswich to Fleixstowe Port and back. Certainly the docks have changed with the old Brewery no longer in use and the large Oil Depot and metal recycling facilities.

Bird-Watching Cruise on the Orwell

As there were very strong winds forecast on Friday, we weren't sure that the trip up the Orwell and into the Stour on the Thames Barge Thistle would run. A very skillful Skipper and Mate with the help of a small power boat to turn us, managed to get us out of Dock and onto the Orwell. We were unable to turn into the Stour or to get close to the banks so bird photography was a bit limited but here Herring gulls, Cormorant, Redshank, Blacktailed Godwits, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Oyster Catcher, Widgeon, Bar-Tailed Godwit.

Thames Barge and Smack Racing

We had the full range of weather conditions for the Barge and Smack Racing Event on Saturday from the beautiful sunrise to dramatic skies and then rain as the skipper and mate returned the barge to Brightlingsea in the afternoon.