Great shot Kev, and well done on your first go at manual control. After a while it becomes second nature, and you resort back to auto when you're in a real hurry or just couldn't be bothered. I now carry an external light meter - a little Sekonic L-208 which is designed to measure ambient, not direct light. Simple
I agree with the others about the black foreshore. I'd crop it just above, leaving the tree sitting on the right third at that aspect ratio. Very noice!