After a blustery start with low cloud and the threat of rain it actually ended up being another glorious afternoon out on the reserve. Bearded Tits were seen early doors and the Peregrines were doing there stuff. Over 60 Golden Plover were with the Lapwing  and Stonchats showed well near the Purfleet Hide while a Water Pipit and two Rock Pipits were sen just outside again. The waters are still very slowly rising and more duck are using the new pools every day no with six species of dabbling duck now trying out the area.

Ring-necked parakeets in a splash of glorious lime green and sulphur yellow zoomed past the centre window this evening looking almost irridescent in the low light.

Some gulling on the landfill site may have thrown up another rarity with what could be an Azorean Yellow-legged Gull. Have not seen Dom's images yet but it would look like a Yellow-legged Gull (which you largely get in teh Mediterranean) with a dark speckled hood. I am sure he has some shots and hopefully he will let me put one on here. Fortunately I managed to see the last very good candidate for this species to be seen here (also found by Dom) so was not overely panic stricken at the thought of a day spent searching every gull in sight!  More to follow hopefully.  Check out Dom's Blog for some images and explanation!  After a Med Gull on the Thames yesterday it was nice to at last find a first-winter and an adult Kittiwake heading up river behind the Sand Fulmar. At least they got past the QEII Bridge this time!

Beardies (Barry Jackson)

All I could muster today was another fabulous sunset...