With another 'chilled' weekend in Essex in order post uni deadlines, news of a Spotted Sandpiper at Hanningfield Reservoir (situated a mere 20 minutes from home) wet my appetite. Reservoir birding at this time of year tends to yield the goods, and with my year list crying out for some winter ducks, I thought it would be rude not to pop into Abberton Reservoir after the attempted twitch. We arrived at Hanningfield at around half 10 to be told that there were 'a couple hundred people' in the Lyster hide - from which the bird had been showing the day prior. I had anticipated a decent sized twitch considering this was the first opportunity for most people to go and see the bird. However, the hide was surprisingly civil upon arrival - with there being adequate space in order to view the bird. Gladly, it was extremely straightforward with the Spotted Sandpiper showing well on the water's edge right in front of the hide. I watched as the bird actively fed, bobbing in typ...