Andy, who had not seen my texts of doom, was the only person to join Anne and me at Herriott’s. To keep our optics dry in the rain, one person held a large umbrella over the scopes while the other searched. We noted three Shelducks, nine Black-tailed Godwits, two Snipe and some Common Gulls. There was some shelter from the rain by the side of Woodford and we were able to see two Egyptian Geese, some Pochards, and upwards of a thousand Cormorants. They were on an island that had appeared in front of Denny, the water level being so low. At Moreton we saw a Marsh Harrier. Lastly, at Stratford, where we found accidentally another BOC member, Marta, we became four. Here we found Wigeon, Pintail, nine Lapwings, 34 Great White Egrets, one Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Peregrine, a Cetti’s Warbler, a few Pied Wagtails, twelve Meadow Pipit, and a flock of 20 Linnet. There were of course the usual species, Canada Geese, Mute Swan, Shovelers, Gadwall, lots of Teal, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Great Crested Grebe, and five gulls, including Common and Great Black-backed. (Many thanks to Robert for leading in atrocious weather.) Robert Hargreaves