The water levels have been raised once more and the site looked really good this morning. The level seemed just right for all the waders and the roosting gulls too. Feeding waders included Golden Plover, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwits, Sanderling, 12 Avocet, Green Sandpiper, Redshank and a single Spotted Redshank. No Flamingos were present but 2 Spoonbills, several Grey Heron and the occasional Glossy Ibis emerged from the reeds. Nothing unusual among the wildfowl this morning, whilst scanning a Purple Gallinule was seen distantly. I was on the lookout for early migrants and certainly the number of Swallows had increased dramatically with a hundred or so feeding low over the water. House Martins were with them also, Newly arrived adult Swallows resting in the tamarisk bushes. I met with two other birders who were deliberating over a distant gull which aroused my interest. It was larger than a nearby Black-headed Gull, clearly not a Med Gull and smaller than a Yellow-legged Gull. Common Gull is a very scarce visitor and this was looking like one, in terms of size and shape. Later, the Gull appeared closer, perched on a post in the lake. I thought, yes it's a Common Gull - in terms of age, the bill and leg colour (darkish green) looked like a second winter. The problem was, the head was white and unstreaked, the sides were extensively white which I have never seen on a Common Gull. I wish I'd taken more images, but I was being distracted by more birds and hadn't realised it wasn't that clear cut! Back on the search for migrants and my first Yellow Wagtail called overhead. I found it near a pool of fresh water, it was a smart Iberiae race. We walked the boardwalk to the sea end and had lunch in the restaurant. On returning, an adult Little Bittern flew between two reedbeds and a surprise Stone Curlew landed in the dunes on the seaward side and out of view. Today was much better for Penduline Tits, there was practically no wind in the morning and twelve were seen in one flock, but very mobile. I found them later in the afternoon, close to the viewing screen and feeding on tamarisk seeds. A female Black-header Weaver was with the Penduline Tits.
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