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A young heron

 

Essex has reservoirs and coastal sites of  international importance for birds. In Hertfordshire, the Chiltern Hills are home to skylarks and red kites. The flood plains of  the Rivers Lea and Stort are too wet for human habitation, but are wonderful places  for marshland birds.   Bishop's Stortford's Meads form a fantastic wetland habitat before  the river is tamed as  the Stort Navigation.    The canal is far from an industrial eyesore and tree lined  banks line the canal with managed  flood plains and angling waters  on either  side.  Here can be seen the Stort's speciality - the  Little  Grebe.

 

Hatfield Forest lake is a great place to watch the courtship of Great Crested Grebes in the spring.  During the winter months, flocks of pochard and tufted duck with some teal and gadwall can be seen on the lake with the resident mallards.  Recently, there have been visiting goosanders.  Also seen have been an Egyptian goose and two ruddy shelducks.   

Also seen have been an Egyptian goose (left) and two ruddy shelducks (below). 

  

 You can participate in a really useful survey by watching the birds  that visit  your garden.   For more information, see Garden Bird Watch which is  run by the  British Trust for Ornithology.

Even in town centres and suburbs, special birds can be seen like this Waxwing from Scandinavia.

These exotic Wood Ducks paid a visit to Connaught Water in Epping Forest

Even the very shy teal ducks can be seen close to on Connaught Water.   Another shy bird that you can approach is  the heron (right)

The exotic mandarin ducks (left) from China breed on some of the quieter ponds.  Black and white tufted ducks and the shovelers  with their enormous bills are frequent visitors too

Go to the forum for the best places to see  birds and  the latest sightings.  There you will see more photographs and you can post your comments and pictures

You don't have to be an expert or a twitcher to enjoy your local birds.  Vast flocks of finches can be seen going to their roosts and redwings from Scandinavia can be seen in winter when they strip the berries  from the shrubs and trees.  Your own garden can be a wonderful and convenient place to watch birds too and you are  sure to be visited by everyone's favourite - the robin.