The call of the sea birds can be heard faintly through the mist as it drifts across the creek and marshland at dawn, and rises up to form clouds. Published in Sphere some years ago. [DW]
The 'Da ag' on the fields and creeks in early morning. The dense white mist with its name of Danish origin is a phenomenon local to the north-east Essex coast and heralds a fine and exceptionally warm summer or autumn day. The successive invasions of the east coast by Norse raiders, and the later Saxon settlement, result in many local survivals: the Danish raven on the Colchester coat-of-arms, which also appears superimposed on the Danish flag as emblem on the Wivenhoe Sailing Club burgee; the shingle spit known as the 'Nass' at the entrance to West Mersea's creeks; the better known 'Naze' promontory off Walton and others. [JL]
Plate.69 in SWW.
Used in The Sailor's Coast page 24.