Bees, butterflies, sunshine and blue skies

What a difference a day makes.,  Forecast wasn't brilliant bet better than it's been! And it turned out to be a glorious day.. so lovely to get rid of all that winter clobber.

The day started with a, rather reclusive, Male Blackcap visiting Mum's garden.  Pity the window got in the way.  At this point it was cloudy and greyish...

 And Goldfinches in abundance on the feeders

Then after taking Mum shopping I headed off for the coast!  And the sun came out and it got very warm - lovely stuff!!

First stop Widewater Lagoon
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  Managed to park so I could start out on the path midway between the two 'halves' of the lagoon.  Nothing much about in bird terms other than a Mute Swan and a Little Egret.  Very quiet.

But you seem to get quite a few inter-bred Mallards here.

Starlings were gathering nesting material; the sunlight made their feather irridescent!

 

Further along the beach, a lone surfer with patriotic colours was out on the sea.

and so were the gulls... very quiet birdwise! - but wrong time of day and high tide.

The sea was quite rough in the south westerly wind!

Even further along, the beach garden was still a bit colourless.. this will improve soon when the flowers start to bloom.

and some Bees buzzing about - great :D

and the end product of the day?  A Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly - lovely to see one.  A Brimstone flew past later but too fast and didn't pose for a picture!

Glorious weather and lovely to see bees and flutters again - long may it last!!

Finally I get the bird... Osprey at Warnham Nature Reserve

I'd seen information that told me the Osprey had been seen at Warnham Nature Reserve at about 11.00 a.m.  I was out shopping having visited my mother and brother - HAPPY  BIRTHDAY, David :D so it wasn't too much of a detour on my way home.

I made straight for the hide where about 4-5 people were already watching.  The Osprey had recently (not seen by anyone present) caught a fish and was eating IT in the trees opposite.  The light was dreadful and the Osprey distant but, record shots they may be, but my first ones ever!!

Eventually it flew from it's meal-time perch and flew along to the far end of the lake...and there it sat, and sat, and sat... it's probably still sitting as I type ...

A large flock of Greylag Geese had landed just as I'd arrived and they were all intent on bathing!

And in front of the hide, a pair of Mallards had mated!!  Well I know it's mild but surely they know it's NOT Spring?.... ;)

On the way out a few birds from hide..

This is one of about 5 Black Sheep that are gracing the wildflower meadow... this now being shut to the public... presumably for the winter..

So quite a pleasant surprise and finally I got to see the Osprey before it departs for home territory!

RNLI Shoreham and some Cormorants..

I went to my favourite camera shop today looking for a camera bag... I dipped on that - found one or two that nearly fitted my spec. but shall continue looking.

Following on from there I decided to go see what was happening in Shoreham Harbour.  I'd seen the new Lifeboat House being built and today I stopped in the car park as the lifeboat house was open to the public.

A very nice volunteer invited me in and set me off on the tour.  It was quite incredible to see the boats and the interior of the boathouse close up!

I started by walking down the shingle beach to the sea edge( and down on a very slippery jetty) where a couple of mute swans were lazing about with some gulls.

A few turnstones - turned stones and looked for food.

The Lighthouse

A boat left the harbour and headed out to sea.

So into the Lifeboat House... amazing!!

Up the stairs to the top floor and the view from it!

Two slipways - one each for the Lifeboat and the Inshore boat

From there I drove along through Shoreham, over the bridge and back along the road on the other side.  From there I could view the boathouse across the river..

A very large boat was coming into the harbour..

and a small one ...

There's an old Fort on the 'other side' which I discovered for the first time today.
Shoreham Old Fort  - work to build the fort began in 1857

A view from the fort across the river to the Lifeboat House

Shoreham Port and Shoreham Beach... the beach is a wildlife area

Fascinating.  But by now I was exceedingly hungry so lunch was needed.  I went to Wildwater Lagoon to see if the food kiosk was open.  It was.  And a coffee and bacon sandwich (very nice) was enjoyed whilst watching a family of 2 adult and 5 mute swan cygnets.  One Little Egret.  I fly over of 5 swallows going out over the sea and a few cormorants.

And finally, home.  An unplanned and rather pleasant day.