ESSEX
METROPOLITAN ESSEX:
Hawfinches included 30 at Thorndon CP and 20 at Ongar Park Wood. Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were at both sites. Firecrests were at nine sites. A Siberian Chiffchaff was at Creekmouth. Two Great White Egrets and a Great Northern Diver were at Fairlop Waters CP. KGV Reservoir held a Great Northern Diver, Scaup, Black-necked Grebe and two Caspian Gulls. In the Lee Valley, a Smew was at Seventy Acres, two Bitterns at the Watchpoint and a Black-necked Grebe on Holyfield. Walthamstow had a Whooper Swan, Scaup and Red-breasted Merganser. Smew were on the William Girling and Connaught Water. Roding Valley Meadows had a Red-necked Grebe. Six Bewick’s Swans overflew Wanstead Flats. Jack Snipe were at Sewardstone and Beckton. Caspian Gulls were at Beckton, Creekmouth and Leyton Flats.
MID-ESSEX:
Abberton Reservoir logged three Great White Egrets, 80 Goosanders, two Slavonian Grebes, two Black-necked Grebes, a Ring-necked Duck, three Bitterns, four Smew,
a Red-breasted Merganser, Glaucous Gull, two Dartford Warblers, Stonechats, a Merlin, Hen Harrier, Little Stints, Dunlin, Ruff and Black-tailed Godwits. The Blackwater held 32 Common Scoters, three Velvet Scoters, 54 Red-breasted Mergansers, two Scaup, two Black-necked Grebes, five Slavonian Grebes, eight Great Northern Divers, a Red-throated Diver, Shag and Long-tailed Duck. A Black Brant moved between West Mersea and Tollesbury. A Glossy Ibis flew over Salcott Channel. Old Hall Marshes had two Smew, a Ruddy Shelduck, Snow Bunting and three Pinkfeet. There were 500 Avocets at Fingringhoe Wick. Seventeen Marsh Harriers roosted at Langenhoe. Brightlingsea had a pale-bellied Brent, Merlin, Black-throated Diver and Hen Harrier. Six Hawfinches were in Chalkney Wood.
NORTH EAST ESSEX:
Holland Haven logged three Little Auks, 12 Eiders, 48 Common Scoters, 10 Red-breasted Mergansers, two Great Northern Divers, two Great Skuas, a Red Kite, five Pinkfeet, a Short-eared Owl and two Purple Sandpipers. Frinton recorded 43 Common Scoters, 10 Black-throated Divers, three Great Northern Divers, a Shag, two Great Skuas, 205 Red-throated Divers and six Kittiwakes. Two Shore Larks, a Black Redstart, Purple Sandpiper, Short-eared Owl, Red Kite and Merlin were at the Naze (16th). Twelve Snow Buntings were at Jaywick, with three Lapland Buntings at Wigboro Wick. An Eider, Black-throated Diver and two Great Northern Divers were on the Stour. Seventeen Hawfinches were seen in Hatfield Forest, with two more over Hamford Water.
RAINHAM MARSHES:
Highlights included 180 Golden Plovers, 26 Avocets, 1,435 Dunlin, three Ruff, 220 Black-tailed Godwits, a Woodcock, Goldeneye, two Brent Geese, two Red-breasted Mergansers, seven Kittiwakes, three Little Gulls, three Caspian Gulls, 12 Yellow-legged Gulls, Egyptian Geese, three Ruddy Shelducks, a Bittern, two Short-eared Owls, six Marsh Harriers, four Peregrines, a Merlin, Red Kite, two Ravens, two Firecrests and three Bullfinches.
SOUTH-EAST ESSEX:
Canvey logged a Little Auk, 140 Red-throated Divers, nine Great Skuas, an Arctic Skua, 40 Kittiwakes, three Little Gulls, two Merlins, an Eider, Slavonian Grebe, Great Northern Diver and Black-throated Diver. Southend Pier had a Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe and 18 Mediterranean Gulls. A Great White Egret was at Bowers Marsh. Another was at Wallasea, with two Short-eared Owls, a Merlin and Hen Harrier. Three Whitefronts were at North Fambridge. A Hen Harrier was on Foulness. There was a Black-necked Grebe at Mucking. A Hen Harrier, two Kittiwakes and 747 Avocets were at East Tilbury. A Great Northern Diver was at Hanningfield Reservoir. Hawfinches were at six sites. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was at Pleshey.