Autumn Equinox, Out Of Eclipse

We walked at Nazeing Meads this afternoon for a change. As we parked I saw three men leaning over the Meadgate Sluice railings. I peered over and couldn't see anything. They said they were looking for fish. After walking a circuit we returned to the railings and a young couple were gazing intently into the water. I then spotted a massive carp, evidently they can be found weighing up to 47 lbs here and people come just to look at them. The construction of the sluice was channeling the breeze and it felt like being at the seaside.

Mallards are getting their colourful plumage and flight feathers back after the period of eclipse when the ducks and drakes look very similar. The drakes are already starting to posture.