Friday 5th January

 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH

A long trip up to Essex today with Mark Bailey and Clive Mason .

 To look for a new bird in Britain for all of us a Northern Waterthrush that had been found at Heybridge Nr Maldon . We left Exeter at around 3 am and got there at just around 7 . The bird was heard on call by Clive and myself at 7.20 but then we stood in one spot freezing until 11.20 when a cry went up from someone of got it !!! And I was lucky enough to be stood in the right place and got on to the bird that was sat in a bush with a couple of Blue Tit but in seconds they were gone again .

The crowed had now risen to around 200+ all trying to get a nice view , but the bird was very hard to get onto as it creeped along a wet ditch but after a while both Mark & Clive got good views of the bird . As for getting photos it was a nightmare as you can see ! and I could only manage to get this one shot of it .But then again its better than a kick up the bum .

A great days Birding had by all .