ESSEX

METROPOLITAN ESSEX: Waxwings included 46 around Collier Row, 30 in Harold Hill and 50 in Hornchurch. Thirteen Bramblings were 13 in Warley. Firecrests were at four sites, with Common Sandpipers and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers at three. Two Bitterns were in the Ingrebourne Valley with one in Warren Gorge. Another was at Seventy Acres in the Lee Valley, with four Smew. Fishers Green had 14 Russian Whitefronts. A Great White Egret was in the Mardyke. Walthamstow Reservoir logged a Scaup, Black Redstart, Caspian Gull and Siberian Chiffchaff. Girling Reservoir had seven Black-necked Grebes and a Slavonian Grebe. Fourteen Goosanders were at Weald Park. Ten Caspian Gulls, with several Mediterranean and Yellow-legged Gulls were between Creekmouth and Leamouth. Two Short-eared Owls were at Fairlop Waters CP and one in the Ingrebourne. Seven Turnstones were at Grays.

MID ESSEX: The Blackwater’s held 70 Red-breasted Mergansers, ten Scaup, 20 Long-tailed Ducks, 30 Goldeneyes, a Velvet Scoter, all three divers, seven Slavonian Grebes, a Black-necked Grebe, 50 Great Crested Grebes and a Shag. A Great White Egret was near Earls Colne. West Mersea logged a Black Brant, six Woodcocks, a Glossy Ibis and six Mediterranean Gulls. The ibis also appeared at Brightlingsea and Old Hall Marshes, where a pale-bellied Brent Goose, Marsh Harriers, Mediterranean Gull, Merlin, Shag and eight Goosanders were also noted. A Merlin and 14 Marsh Harriers were recorded at Langenhoe. A Waxwing was seen in Maldon. Abberton Reservoir logged a total of 96 Scaup, 30 Goosanders, seven Smew, four Red-crested Pochards, a Bittern, Short-eared Owl, two Bewick’s Swans and a Mediterranean Gull.

NORTH ESSEX: The Stour held a Long-tail Duck, Slavonian Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Eider, Shag, 28 Red-breasted Mergansers, 19 Goldeneyes and three Velvet Scoters. A Black Brant and Short-eared Owl were at The Naze. Eight Lapland Buntings were at Wigboro Wick Farm, St Osyth and nine Snow Buntings at Jaywick. Frinton logged 35 Guillemots. The Hooded Crow remained around Bulmer. Fifteen Russian Whitefronts were at Broomhouse Flash, Lanham.

RAINHAM MARSHES: Highlights included five Russian Whitefronts, five Brent Geese, five Egyptian Geese, an Oystercatcher, Avocets, 300 Black-tailed Godwits, Jack Snipe, two Short-eared Owls, four Marsh Harriers, Peregrines, Buzzards, Ravens, a Merlin, Little Gull, two Mediterranean Gulls, several Caspian Gulls, a Waxwing, three Blackcaps, Bearded Tits, a Brambling, Siskin and four Water Pipits. SOUTH EAST ESSEX: Wallasea logged the Lesser White-fronted Goose and 29 Russian Whitefronts from Foulness, a Black Brant, three Marsh Harriers, eight Short-eared Owls, two Merlins, three Twite and a Great White Egret. A tundra Bean Goose and Great Grey Shrike were on Foulness. Gunner Park recorded two Black-throated and two Great Northern Divers. Canvey Point had three Great Northern Divers, two Velvet Scoters, two Black-throated Divers, 23 Red-throated Divers and a Purple Sandpiper. The Bewick’s Swan remained at Vange Marsh. Fourteen Mediterranean Gulls and a Long-tailed Duck were at Westcliff, with another Long-tail off Althorne. A Little Stint was at Wakering Stairs. East Tilbury held 1,321 Avocets, 1,125 Black-tailed Godwit and 11 Common Scoters. Two Caspian Gulls and a Glaucous Gull were at Bowers Marsh. Water Pipits were there, at Canvey Heights and Ropers Farm. Another was at Stow Marsh with 20 Grey Partridges, a Merlin, Ruff and Jack Snipe. A Firecrest was in Hockley Woods and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in Norsey Woods. Fifty Waxwings were in Benfleet and 20 in Billericay. Hanningfield Reservoir held a Goosander, two Knot, six Ruff and a Black-tailed Godwit. Howard Vaughan