11th December 2005. After a 12hr nightshift i picked up my dad and headed off to Rainham marshes to connect with the 1w SOCIABLE PLOVER . After a short wait for the reserve to open, we made our way to where the plover was showing well,albeit at a distance, with lapwings.The sun was breaking through but mist obscured the bird at times. It was very distinguishable with its broad white supercillium, long legs, three coloured upperparts, at rest the black wing tips were prominently edged with the white secondaries then the dusky upperparts. When in flight this patterning was stunning to see especially against the accompanying lapwings. It stayed on view for some time but never ventured any closer and eventually flew across the train lines and was lost to view, i could go home now and get some sleep with another new tick on my list.