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Pick of the best sites close to East Tilbury
Hanningfield Reservoir is some 10 miles to the NE, a combination of open water with good numbers of wintering wildfowl and passage waders combined with extensive woodland. Magical!
Wat Tyler Country Park, on the southeast edge of Basildon, has new hides overlooking a productive scrape and is close to a rubbish tip, so gulls are good! Bearded Tits breed in expanses of reed and scarcer species occur, including Cetti's Warbler (best listened for!)
Thorndon Country Park, on the A128 south of Brentwood, is good for woodland species, especially woodpeckers. Crossbills are sometimes present, and Siskins linger in spring.
Canvey Sea Front is recognised as a prime site for seawatching in autumn and early winter. Arctic Skuas linger, while Bonxies and Pomarine Skuas pass though. Best Essex site for Sabine's Gull. Recent rarities: Long-tailed Skua, Leach's Petrel and Franklin's Gull. Mediterranean Gulls regular. Follow signs to seafront, park in large car park on the left after amusement arcades and watch from shelter/cafe.
Abberton Reservoir, near Colchester, is the county's best wildfowl site. A joint venture between the Essex Wildlife Trust and the Essex Birdwatching Society, it has an astonishing record in the annals of birding in the county.
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