A Turtle in the Blackwater?

[DavidofMersea]

Thanks. I’m no expert but it looks to me more like some sort of terrapin than a marine turtle or a snapping turtle (http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/snappers.htm - if snappers are not themselves a type of terrapin, which they may be FAIK). Unfortunately the Rev’s photo includes no idea of scale, and there is no accompanying text. I don’t know the Monkey Steps, but I see there are some (freshwater?) lakes or ponds near the shore, so perhaps it came from one of those.

In passing, I found some interesting old photos here - I’m sure you know about them but others may not: http://www.merseamuseum.org.uk/mmimages.php?typ=name&wds=

I don't know of any freshwater lakes or ponds near the shore, or anywhere else in Mersea.

I have seen the Museum photographs, they are a good collection. There used to be a commercial photographer in the village and fortunately he seemed to hoard all the photos he ever took, and a lot of those photos were from his colection

 

[Serin]

Reported sightings of marine turtles at http://www.mcsuk.org/sightings/map/index.php are in the South West and Wales. (A basking shark off the N Kent coast, though.) 75% of sightings are of the leatherback turtle. Might freshwater snapping turtles survive in saline water for a time?

I occasionally saw turtles off the Devon and Cornish coasts 50 years ago. And basking sharks. I suppose it's possible that one has found its way into the North Sea.

The Blackwater is, of course, pretty much the saltiest estuary in the country, so I doubt if a fresh water creature could survive in it for long.

 

[DavidofMersea]

The Blackwater is, of course, pretty much the saltiest estuary in the country.

I am not saying you are wrong, but I have never heard that before, where did you get that info from?

 

[Serin]

I am not saying you are wrong, but I have never heard that before, where did you get that info from?

It's one of those things I have known for so long that the means by which I first learned it is lost in the mists of time. But if you google, for example "most salty river in the UK" or something like that, you will find the Blackwater always pops up.

I probably first heard about this because I was interested in the history of the red hills on the marshes around the estuary. It's not for nothing that the Blackwater has been a centre for the production of sea salt for 2000 years.

 

[Sixpence]

But if you google, for example "most salty river in the UK" or something like that, you will find the Blackwater always pops up.

I'm afraid that seems to be caused by your own browsing history, I've just done a search using those exact words and the Blackwater doesn't get a mention on pages one through to four, your computer knows what you like to see so shows exactly that. Anyone searching for this for the first time is most likely going to find different results. I'm not sure but I think a clear out of your cookies and browsing history might sort that but others will have a better idea, nice thought though, always thought the Blackwater looked like you could walk on it, just never been inclined to try :encouragement:

 

[DavidofMersea]

It's not for nothing that the Blackwater has been a centre for the production of sea salt for 2000 years.

You are probably right, and of course there is the internationally famous Maldon Salt works. I have even seen Mersea salt on sale in Ibiza, which apart from tourism, is the islands biggest industry ... Presumably they think Maldon salt is better that Ibiza salt

 

[Sixpence]

Presumably they think Maldon salt is better that Ibiza salt

No doubt about that one David, given a choice I would always go for Maldon salt

 

[DavidofMersea]

No doubt about that one David, given a choice I would always go for Maldon salt

I have a Dutch friend who is a great cook in Ibiza, and she uses Maldon salt, even though it is quite expensive there. I distilled (If that is the right word) some for her from the Blackwater. I thought that customs at Stansted might ask some questions when they saw it, but they never did

 

[alant]

I have a Dutch friend who is a great cook in Ibiza, and she uses Maldon salt, even though it is quite expensive there. I distilled (If that is the right word) some for her from the Blackwater. I thought that customs at Stansted might ask some questions when they saw it, but they never did

Not sure I'd cook with salt that has turtle shit in it.

 

[nortonmotors]

On page 66, Mersea Life reports on the dog owner who failed to clean up after his pet pooped on the beach, was fined £50, failed to pay, and then got further fines and court costs totalling £1045.
Hurrah!

 

[alant]

On page 66, Mersea Life reports on the dog owner who failed to clean up after his pet pooped on the beach, was fined £50, failed to pay, and then got further fines and court costs totalling £1045.
Hurrah!

Dog shit flavoured salt as well.

 

[Serin]

You are probably right,

I am indeed right. It is pretty well known, in fact. And as far as your suggestion is concerned, Sixpence, I have googled this subject precisely once (quick check to see if I could find a source for David) using the pharse "saltiest river" and got confirmation in the first two links to come up - no browser history involved.

Plenty of confirmation is available, but I have many better things to do than locate it in order to prove a point. The Blackwater is, indeed, the saltiest, or, if it ain't, which is? Get googling!

 

[Stork_III]

I am indeed right. It is pretty well known, in fact. And as far as your suggestion is concerned, Sixpence, I have googled this subject precisely once (quick check to see if I could find a source for David) using the pharse "saltiest river" and got confirmation in the first two links to come up - no browser history involved.

Plenty of confirmation is available, but I have many better things to do than locate it in order to prove a point. The Blackwater is, indeed, the saltiest, or, if it ain't, which is? Get googling!

I agree. When I googled it Blackwater came back top, high salinity due to low rainfall, and mud flats holding salt from evaporation.

 

[Serin]

I agree. When I googled it Blackwater came back top, high salinity due to low rainfall, and mud flats holding salt from evaporation.

Thanks. The info isn't hard to find, is it?

I love the Blackwater. A magnificent arm of the sea with a fascinating history. Not pretty, like the Orwell, but beautiful in all its moods. To my mind, the finest of all the East Coast rivers.

 

[DavidofMersea]

I also Googled saltiest river, and I was quite impressed until I read "Maldon used to be a good fishing port but the fish have gone for some reason". I know it says Maldon, but Mersea which is just down river from Maldon, is the largest fishing port between Lowerstoft and Brixham in Devon

 

[Hydrozoan]

These are brackish water terrapins, and are kept as pets: http://www.pets4homes.co.uk/pet-advice/diamondback-terrapins-as-pets.html. Difficult to compare with the photograph, however.

 

[C08]

Turtles often get carried by the Gulf Stream & end up in North Wales in Cardigan Bay near Porthmadog.

Sat in the bar at Madoc Yacht club and watched a guy jump in and pull out a tuna fish, all 4 ft of it. It perhaps was suffering from the fresh water there from the river. Very beautiful silvery fish

 

[LittleSister]

Sat in the bar at Madoc Yacht club and watched a guy jump in and pull out a tuna fish, all 4 ft of it. It perhaps was suffering from the fresh water there from the river. Very beautiful silvery fish

Was it a dolphin friendly tuna, did you notice?

 

[DavidofMersea]

To day I saw a Turtle about 5 feet away basking in the sunshine, in the Canal at Heybridge, so there are Turtles around the east coast, we live and learn

 

[Laurie]

I agree. When I googled it Blackwater came back top, high salinity due to low rainfall, and mud flats holding salt from evaporation.

Another clue will be the long term salt production at Maldon....................