After a “Sharp” gathering yesterday it is off to the jewel of a county that is Essex for a “Baldwin” gathering. We were up early so rather than sitting around I found a place called Tollesbury Marsh nature reserve which is sort of en route, being just off the A12 at Chelmsford.
The M25 was heaving because a section in Surrey was closed both ways after an accident yesterday. All the traffic to Kent was being diverted via the north of London. Once on the A12 we soon took a turn off around Chelmsford and passed through Maldon towards Tollesbury. I am always surprised at the quaintness of the Essex countryside when you consider the negative image it has.
We parked up at Tollesbury marina, (loos were locked!) and headed down the short stretch of road to the actual marina itself. We passed an impressive sparrow colony of possibly a 100 birds, then walked past the sailing club and down to the sea wall that skirts the Essex Nature Trust reserve.
The tide was out and the mud was exposed, the further from the marina we got the more waders we spotted: whimbrel/curlew, godwit, sandpiper, oystercatcher, redshank, golden plover, lapwing, linnet, reed bunting and wagtail. We sat for on the see wall then headed back for a coffee, in the local greasy spoon. I had cappuchino and crisps Helen had beans on toast and chocolate milkshake, (I can’t imagine why!).
The Barbecue/Party went really well, everyone seemed to enjoy them selves, there was plenty to eat and drink. We were booked in at a B&B called Timbers http://www.timbersbandb.co.uk/ which is close by I popped out and dumped the bags there at 16:00 to save a lot of palaver later. We were not quite sure what to expect, but it turned out to be a great B&B the hosts, Alan & Angela could not do enough to make sure we had everything we needed. Breakfast was a feast, we had a veggie breakfast, but the choices were extensive. There was fresh fruit salad, home made yoghurt, and home made Jam.
After breakfast it was back round the relatives house for a cup of coffee then Helen and I went home but not before another look at the local wildlife, this time at Mersea island where there is a ferry but no song with a Liverpool accent to go with it. The sun was shining and there was plenty to see on the mud exposed while the tide was out.