Exploring Newtown estuary on the Isle of Wight

Bob took us for another short jaunt before lunch to explore the quite wild and remote estuary near the old Rotten Borough of Newtown. There are extensive marshes and creeks now managed by the National Trust where birds have good habitats around the small boating community which also uses the sheltered river estuary.

We walked across a wooden footbridge which takes you several hundred yards out towards the sea and to the old harbour walls.  The light was ver poor and there was low cloud cover which actually carried some rain as we were leaving. It felt good to be out in the fresh winds and sea air again. 

Bob was born in the nearby town of Freshwater, near to where he and Mary now live overlooking Freshwater Bay. Their house adjoins an interesting museum dedicated to the very early photographer, Julia Margaret Cameron, in the house in which she lived. The immediate locality was a scene of artistic pursuits and Alfred, Lord Tennyson, had the neighbouring estate where he invited many contemporaries. Charles Darwin stayed as a guest for many months in the house which Bob and Mary own close to the sea in Freshwater Bay. Bob and Mary are both artists and we love being in the amazing home full of books and paintings and ideas!

I have added an 'Extra photo' of the egret standing on the wooden footbridge with Bob nearly in conversation with it. It stood there for some time but some other visitors walking towards Bob disturbed it and if flew off across the water meadows towards the open sea, and that is when I took the main blip picture.