Northern Waterthrush, Heybridge, Essex - 13th January 2024

This rare visitor from North America had been present in a small creek for just over a week and had been drawing huge crowds so when the opportunity arose to go it was a no brainer despite the very early start in total blackness. Arriving at 7.17am there must have been at least 150 people already there. It showed at first light but I had initially poor views. It then moved more into the open and as people left I manged to get a better spot for some pictures. The light was very poor still so just a few record shots.

A super little bird way off course! Big thanks to Roland for the lift and some great birds later in Heybridge Basin including Red Breasted Merganser, Pintail, Golden Plover, Brent Geese and Bar-Tailed Godwit.