Slav Grebe, Dartford, Kent - lunch break twitch

It's been a good few days. Following the weekend's Waxwing-fest, today I worked from home as Jamie's school was shut. When news came through that the showy Slavonian grebe was still on a small pond just the other side of the QE2 Bridge, Thurrock, we decided to head over at lunch time.

The site was easy to find although anyone going needs to be careful as the pond is on a road that is for buses only, although when accessed from the west there are no signs to say that. I got a telling off, and hopefully there's no ticket to follow! I did apologise profusely!
 

The bird showed well, down to about 15 feet from the rear of the pond. After 10 minutes we had to leave to get back. We had a very quick look for the Bittern on the lake behind the Management Centre but couldn't find it although 3 Ring Necked Parakeet were a colourful and noisy year tick.