We recently spent three delightful weeks away during the Christmas and New Year period. Upon returning to the UK, I was surprised to learn that a Northern Waterthrush had been spotted in Essex. This marked the eighth record of its kind in Britain, making it a rare sighting. What started as a casual observation turned into an exciting adventure when the Squire messaged, proposing a big day on Saturday if the bird was still being reported on Friday.
The next morning, I hit the road at 5 am, meeting up with the Squire before 5:30 am. Our journey to Essex was swift, and within ten minutes of our arrival, we were parked and set up ready for the bird. Although it had been showing well earlier, we had to exercise patience and wait for two hours before it made another appearance. And when it did, it was a spectacle – the bird was feeding on the edge of the sluice below us, providing fantastic views as the light gradually improved.
Despite the biting cold, the wait was entirely worthwhile.
Eager to continue our birding jolly day out, we headed to Aberton Reservoir. We explored the area from the road and treated ourselves to an early lunch at the visitor center. Just as we were about to move on, the BirdGuides app alerted us to the presence of a Red-breasted Goose approximately an hour away. Since it was a lifer for the Squire, we couldn't pass up the opportunity. The bird's location required a 40-minute walk, which turned into nearly an hour after a Marsh Harrier flushed out all the geese. Undeterred by the over 1000 Brent Geese, I carefully navigated through the flock and was rewarded with the sight of the stunning Red-breasted Goose – a remarkable bird in an extraordinary location.
I've just noticed that this post was sat in drafts and I hadn't done the write up. How things change. The moment has rather gone now but we had a great day and some fantastic views. Will try and get back to normal in the coming year.
