The RSPB visitor centre is closed over the Christmas week so volunteers are opening and closing the main entrance gate. This morning was my turn but on arriving the main gate was already open, presumably by the shepherd so I was in the main car park by 8:35. Initially the fog bank was still east of Burrowes Pit but gradually it came further west and soon made viewing conditions tricky.
Burrowes Pit
Burrowes Pit
Incredibly there were no Cormorants on any of the islands that are still visible and this meant a few more bathing and roosting gulls were in evidence including at least three Caspian Gulls of various ages and two Yellow-legged Gulls.
The Great Northern Diver had moved from New Diggings on to Burrowes but was feeding along the far edge and not at all close. The Long-tailed Duck remains on New Diggings.
Caspian Gulls (centre) 1st winter and 4th CY
Caspian Gull 1st winter
Yellow-legged Gull adult behind an adult Herring Gull
I hadn't seen the above Yellow-legged Gull and only noticed it when checking my photos of the Yellow-legged Gull below.
Yellow-legged Gull 3rd/4th CY
Thanks to MC aka Ploddingbirder for pointing out a first winter Caspian Gull at the left of the above photo.
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