In search of an Essex tick

I was on full blown grandad duty yesterday when news arrived of the second ever White-billed Diver for Essex. With the first being a fly by and this second one showing well fishing close in to the pier at Southend I knew it would be popular and most of the Essex listers managed to get down yesterday and not only see it but get some gripping images of it. I had more grandad duties planned for today but after some discussion managed to arrange some time off allowing me to try the twitch so picked up the Jims and headed down the A127.

We arrived at Wallasea island at 8am as the pier at Southend didn't open until 10.15am. In an hour just scanning from the entrance track at Wallasea we had Buzzard, Kestrel, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Merlin and Short-eared Owl along with Corn Bunting, Skylark, Stonechat, Fieldfare and many waders.

Fieldfare

Kestrel

We then drove to the pier at Southend and parked up outside. For just £8.30 I was legally allowed to leave my car in the road for three hours. After paying for tickets we boarded the 10.30 train and headed out to the end of the pier (the pier is 1.25miles long) At the pier end we found good numbers of Med Gulls and Turnstones and started to scan the sea along with those gathered, some like us hoping for an Essex tick whilst others wanted the year tick and a few searched for a Life tick. Geoff K, Roy W, Mike O'H, Simon W et al all joined in the scanning and we picked out lot's of distant Red-throated Divers and a couple of Gt-Northern Divers along with Razorbill, Guillemot and Gt-crested Grebes. A close in Gt-northern Diver caused some debate but was quickly correctly ID'd. Common Seals popped up around the pier at times and Roy had both Shag and Long-tailed Duck both of which would have been year ticks if I'd seen them.

Med Gull

Ringed in France 2020

After our three hours was up we headed back to the car via the train having walked a couple of miles up and down the pier in our search for the target. As we arrived home the bird news services reported that the White-billed Diver was seen close to the pier again at 4.15 today which left us wondering if it was the bird or the Gt-northern that had caused others confusion today. I guess time will tell if the bird is still out in the bay somewhere but I would like another go at it if possible.

Just the small matter of changing my father-in-laws wound dressing when I got near home and then a rest before tomorrow chasing the grandchildren around again.

Year list now 152