The sun shone nearly all day and people came out en masse for a a paddle in the puddles. It was good to see the Bexley and Lincoln RSPB Members Groups on site and funnily enough the easiest way to tell them apart was the latters enthusiasm for the flocks of Ring-necked parakeets heading south across the river in the evening!
The day started well for me with a Great White Egret heading south a little after dawn and three Avocets, Spotted Redshank and Bar-tailed Godwit found their way onto my year list. The Barnacle Goose was back for te day and the second year Caspian Gull was out on the Wennington floods once again. John Tilbrook and others saw a bobbing Jack Snipe nearthe Butts Hide and the Golden Plover flock was back up to about 200 birds.
John Richardson saw the female Merlin several times in the morning as she hunted the Rainham Ridge and both Marsh Harriers and Buzzards were seen from there.
Photo of the day goes to Cliff Watkinson for nailing the Stonechats! Magic shots!
So all in all a great day
12-1-14