Yes it has been a long time since I graced the humble little platform of 'Tales of an Essex Birder', however, living abroad in Ireland has somewhat stifled the quantity of birdwatching over the past few months. But what better way to return to the blog with a mega in God's own county Essex. A certain Howard Vaughan (the man largely responsible for nurturing mine and so many other young birder's passions) only went and found a drake Canvasback at Essex's premier reserve - Abberton Reservoir. Being across the channel in Ireland at the time the bird was found, I reluctantly resigned myself to not seeing such a mega rarity one home turf. However, after certain unfortunate events played out a sudden trip to England was on the cards, and after spontaneously booking a flight on the 17th November I suddenly found myself at a certain windy body of water staring at a raft of Pochard. Anyway, I am getting ahead of myself... A prompt half 7 start (early for a student) I found ...