Mine is probably a Hoopoe...seen in Hertfordshire last year

Good picture! I have seen one of them before. They sound like an old telephone or something like that don't they?

They sound just like their name. I saw one of these in the driveway of the house where I had a flat in Sussex in the 1960s, before I ever got into birding. A colleague was a keen birder and told me what it was. Seen them in Egypt of course, more recently.

Bramblings - I was walking the dog the other morning and there was one sitting in a tree just above my head. Just sat there and looked at me. If I'd had my camera with me I could have got an excellent shot except, it was raining and the light was hopeless.

Little egrets are becoming more common now, saw a couple recently during a raptor watch on the Wirral.

Yes, they are spreading around the country now. Hopefully they will become more commin up north where Goldfinch lives.

Lots of Little Egrets down here! (and Cattle Egrets at the moment, flock of 20 yesterday) I saw brambling yesterday, photo below!
   

I have never seen a Catle Egret before. I hope I do one day. Can they be found in Essex?
Good picture by the way!

Depends if one gets found in Essex. The ones in Cornwall and Ireland might move across if your lucky!

Lets hope so!

The rarest birds I have seen are a Snowy Owl, a Ring-billed Gull and a Great Grey Shrike.

I have only heard of the Snowy Owl in that list Nicola. The Great Grey Shrike rings a bell though...