I first met the Brent Geese one autumn evening in 2014 while walking my Ridgeback, Nelson down by the Estuary. It was dusk and I hadn’t noticed the geese, they were camouflaged by the mud. I had just moved from London to Essex and was in two minds as to whether it had been a good idea. I loved being so close to this expanse of water, with its wildlife, the changing colours, the stillness, but it was so different from London, everything closed so early, the streets seemed very quiet and I didn’t know anyone.

Along the path I could hear chattering ahead, signs of life I thought!! “This is where all the people are”. Nelson, who was usually a very laid-back boy darted off into the mud and suddenly the sky was full of dark birds, their cry’s filling the air. I called Nelson back, he was shocked by the whole experience and returned immediately, I watched the birds land a few metres back from us on the mud. Another dog walker on the path called out, ‘you’ll have to keep your dog on the lead if he can’t be trusted with the geese’ (rightly so) “these visitors come every year and we must make them welcome, they have travelled thousands of miles to get here”.

Nelson and I walked next to the visitors along the narrow path, listening to their calls. Every so often a group would rise and glide over towards the receding tide and the freshly revealed mud and grasses. As the light faded their grey/brown forms disappeared into the mud leaving just their chatter held in the breeze.

Dark Estuary monoprint series 2018/19

I am always endeavouring to capture something of my experiences and interactions with the estuary in my work, it could be shapes in the landscape, the movement of the birds across the estuary flats, the murmuration’s in autumn, the stillness and quite in the early morning or at dusk. There is a lot going on out there and it’s all interesting!

Since that first meeting Nelson and I have loved our walks on the estuary path. I look forward to seeing the migrants arrive each year and hope that their numbers are many. I have come to know many of the different species that live or visit the estuary throughout the year, mixed in with the Brent Geese are, Plovers, Snipe, Dunlin, Curlew, Sandlings, Avocet and Little Egrets, their brilliant white, elegantly tip toeing in the dark mud. It is such a gift to share these places with the estuary wildlife.

Brent geese

Me & the 7th annual ‘Women in Art Prize’

Moving to the banks of the Thames Estuary