Gannet at Dorney Lake!!

The Gannet is probably the most frequently seen of the scarce county birds that I have never seen in the county, so when news came from Dave Cleal that he was watching one on the rowing lake at Dorney Lake, I had to get there as soon as possible.  So I quickly gathered my birding hardware together and headed off.  About 20 minutes later I pulled up in the car park and started walking across the grass to the start end of the lake where Dave had found the bird.  Within seconds I saw the wing tips of a large bird just starting to fly out of sight (the body was below a grass bank!), so I ran a short way to see that it was indeed the Gannet and that it was heading back my way.  Relief!  I quickly got my Panasonic G6 out and prepared it for actuion.  The Gannet flew back over the start end of the lake but did not appear to want to land again.  It circled a few times, allowing me to take a few photos, and then flew low off towards the NW, possibly following the Jubilee River, in the direction Maidenhead (and the Thames).  No other sightings were made as far as I am aware.

Apparently the bird was not present when Dave first arrived and he saw it as he came back down the causeway.  Thanks to Dave for getting the news out so quickly and allowing me to get a county tick!

Click on photos to view full size.

My initial view as it flew down the lake and fairly close to a couple of people on the bridge.
At this point I though it would fly across to the Thames and disappear. 

Fortunately the bird decided to fly towards me.
I was still 50 yards from the lake at this time. 

Only one foot can be seen.  I presume the other is hidden under it's feather.

Heading off NW.