Tiny LBbG

Not much bigger than a Common Gull, this first-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull was not only tiny but beautifully plumaged too. I'll never understand why some birders 'don't do gulls'!

A fair bit of effort looking at the sea this morning wasn't really rewarded, with just 3+ Sandwich Terns, 2 Turnstones, 1+ first-winter Mediterranean Gull, 1 first-winter Yellow-legged Gull, 3 auk sp and 1 skua sp logged. It's very difficult to get out of the wind and rain when the weather's like it was today.
A couple looks off Mudbank revealed 13+ Bar-tailed Godwits, 5 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, c300+ Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Greenshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 5 Redshank, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Teal, 56 Mute Swans, loads of Wigeon, 8 Dunlin, 9 Black-tailed Godwits and a Whimbrel.

As usual I fluffed the flight shot but the underwing looks dark like typical 'graellsi'.

Tiny and long-winged of course got me thinking 'fuscus' but I don't think there's much to be done in the absence of a ring.

This Greenshank looks like it was enjoying the torrential rain about as much as I was. There were five off Mudbank today which is the most I've had in ages.

Another quite dark Lesser Black-back.

The seemingly resident first-winter Yellow-legged Gull was loafing around the Imperial rugby ground and adjacent recycling centre. Perhaps the skips full of rubbish are encouraging it to hang around. Another bird was off the seafront.

It's always good to get an October Whinchat - this one accompanying a Stonechat in the top fields this afternoon. I scooted round between rain deluges. Also - c10/20+ Swallows, c50/100+ Meadow Pipits and a Chiffchaff. Offshore - 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and 3 Common Scoters.

Litter and Little Egret - Mudbank.