ESSEX

FRINTON-ON-SEA: Maxima included five Tundra Bean Geese, 130 Whitefronts, two Shags, 44 Gannets, 145 Common Scoters, 549 Red-throated Divers, 70 Great Crested Grebes, 116 Kittiwakes, seven Fulmars, four Great Skuas, a Razorbill and Great Northern Divers on five dates.

METROPOLITAN ESSEX: There was an influx of White-fronted Geese. Goosanders were widespread. Seventy Acres held two Smew, a Bittern and Merlin. King George V Reservoir held three Scaup, two Pintails, two Red-breasted Mergansers and a Black Redstart. Other Black Redstarts were at Holyfield Hall Farm and Fair Play Farm in Upminster. A Siberian Chiffchaff and Yellow-browed Warbler were at Walthamstow Wetlands. Three Short-eared Owls were at Gunpowder Park, with others at South Ockendon and Upminster.

A Cattle Egret was between Hooks Marsh and Cornmill Meadows. Great White Egrets were at the Wetlands and Weald Park. Caspian Gulls were at Eagle Pond, Wanstead Flats, Seventy Acres and Creekside. There were 47 Avocets, seven Yellow-legged Gulls and a Water Pipit at West Thurrock Marshes.

MID-ESSEX: White-fronted Geese were widespread and included 65 over Mersea. Four Black Brants and two pale-bellied Brents were seen. Abberton logged six Tundra Bean Geese, nine Great White Egrets, four Cattle Egrets, a Bittern, three Long-tailed Ducks, two Scaup, six Bewick’s Swans, 24 Goosanders, a Smew, Red-necked Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Hen Harrier, a Caspian Gull and Scandinavian Rock Pipit. Two Great White Egrets were at Old Hall Marshes. The Salcott Channel held a Long-tailed Duck, three Great Northern Divers, 28 Red-breasted Mergansers, a Scaup, Short-eared Owl and 12 Stonechats.

Three Jack Snipe were at The Hythe. Three Great White Egrets were at both Brightlingsea and Boreham. East Mersea had a Short-eared Owl, Great White Egret and Purple Sandpiper. The mouth of the Blackwater logged six Red-breasted Mergansers, a Black-throated Diver, Red-necked Grebe, three Eiders, two Mediterranean Gulls, 310 Great Crested Grebes, three Great Northern Divers, two Slavonian Grebes and a Shag. Tollesbury had three Red-necked Grebes, a Slavonian Grebe, ten Common Scoters and 20 Red-breasted Mergansers. A Scaup was at Lofts Farm.

NORTH ESSEX: Whitefronts were widespread and included 119 at Holland Haven. Thirteen Tundra Bean Geese, seven Purple Sandpipers, a Merlin, Shag and Caspian Gull were there too. Hamford Water held a Merlin, 12 Marsh Harriers and a Hen Harrier. Colne Point had a Hen Harrier and Caspian Gull. The Naze had a Merlin, Purple Sandpiper, Black-throated Diver, Short-eared Owl, four Firecrests, nine Eiders and a Snow Bunting. A Great Northern Diver and Short-eared Owl were at Wrabness. Two Great White Egrets were at Bocking. A Great Grey Shrike was at Elmstead.

RAINHAM MARSHES: Highlights included 46 Pintails, 1,260 Wigeon, two Barnacle Geese, the odd Brent Goose, a Whitefront, three Tundra Bean Geese, 1,000 Dunlin, a few Lapwings, 41 Avocets, six Ruff, six Caspian Gulls, a few Yellow-legged and Mediterranean Gulls, seven Marsh Harriers, a Peregrine, Buzzard, Merlin, Short-eared Owl, Crane, Bearded Tits, Scandinavian Rock Pipits, Water Pipits and 100s of Fieldfares.

SOUTH-EAST ESSEX: Whitefronts were at nine sites, including an amazing 442 in the Wallasea area. Several Great White Egrets roamed the area and two Cattle Egrets were at West Canvey. Three Hen Harriers were at Wallasea. Another was at Stow Marsh along with a Merlin, Greenshank and Whimbrel. Blue House Farm had a Short-eared Owl, Water Pipit and Purple Sandpiper. Canvey logged 40 Red-throated Divers, 155 Great Crested Grebes, a Red-necked Grebe, Great Northern Diver, two Black-throated Divers and two Velvet Scoters. A Great Northern Diver was off Gunners Park. Hanningfield Reservoir had a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Black-throated Diver.

Howard Vaughan