Yes, autumn has arrived. Two things tell me this, other than the shortening of the days, and these are the arrival of Brent geese on the Leigh and Canvey Island saltings, and the sudden disappearance of terns.
Autumn offers something else too, but we’ll come to this. Not that you need to feel the nip of autumn to…
A common tern. This one was ‘captured’ in front of the Erith YC a few weeks ago.
I was out sailing my patch last week, the 20th I think, and did not see any Brent geese. It was on that sail that I noticed the absence of the terns which are often seen around the outer stretch of Smallgains Creek. I learnt from a contact that the Brents came in on that day, but probably later on the tide.
Sailing out of Leigh Creek.
My trip had taken me up Leigh Creek up to the Leigh Motor Boat Club where I ‘spun’ the boat by nosing against the mud edge, with someone ashore shouting that I was in shallow water … I knew this! The day was what can only be described as absolutely gorgeous for the day before the autumn equinox.
The following day, escaping from my electronic slate, I popped out for another sail. This took me up Benfleet Creek turning before the BYC moorings. On the way out past the eastern end of Two Tree Island, I spotted the unmistakable movements of little groups of Brent nosing amongst the marsh edges. The saltings hasn’t yet settled into autumn yet, but soon those colours will come too.
Brent nosing the marsh edges…
Leaving these behind I spotted in the distance, away to the east towards Southend Pier low ‘black clouds’ against the generally grey sky. ‘Brent!’ I exclaimed. Several groups landed over the flats off Leigh, to the north of the Ray Channel, darkening the surface. Some almost immediately took off, setting all the others on the move again. The arrow-like flight headed for Hadleigh Ray, saltings and grass lands, food clearly needed.
Autumn arrived…
Crew enjoying the conviviality of Whimbrel’s cockpit… But, note the hats: it’s autumn!
The arrival of autumn is not a signal to give up sailing though … either for a few hours on the tide, and over night or a weekend. Last weekend (Jolly Boys) saw me taking my ‘kid’ brother – he’s 55 soon – and my friend Graham, an old hand on these jaunts. We enjoyed a pleasing sail over to Queenborough, initially thinking it would have to be a motoring trip: the Thames was like glass. Then a breeze sprang up and before we knew it we were bowling along at 5 knots obliquely across the Thames channel. Cutting inside the Fort on the nose of Grain we made a single tack to clear the entrance into the West Swale … stowing sails and mooring a few minutes after high water. Wow, what a sail.
The sun was setting as we set off ashore around 1830…
During the summer I had been awarded the position of Star Letter by the editor of Yachting Monthly with a prize sponsored by Cellartrends.co.uk with a bottle of Pusser’s Rum. Rubbish is an important issue, as is the care of our sailing environment, and I take issue with purposeful environmental vandalism.
Letter about waste being deposited into the sea by pleasure sailors.
Returning aboard after a convivial meal – coffee, liberally laced with Pusser’s Rum, to warm the cockles!
The next day we enjoyed a sparkling sail down to Faversham Spit round the Swale before sailing to the South Deep. I’d booked a berth at Swale Marina: The Ship does a wonderful plate of fish and chips, amongst much more. The evening was finished off with a further Queen’s ration!
We slipped away from Conyer a little before high water. Although it was a little after 0700 the saltings was devoid of bird activity – too early for them perhaps.
Sunday’s sunrise over the disused brickworks site alongside Conyer Creek.
The day was decidedly autumnal. Bright start before clouding over. Some rain was talked about by the forecast lady on BBC Essex, but the Gods were smiling: we had none. Before long long periods of sunshine bathed our passage home…
Ah yes, I can’t wait to get out there again.