Boxing Day... at Pulborough Brooks (on sea!)

After a rather abortive Christmas Day with unrelenting rain and grey skies, I decided to pop into Pulborough Brooks on my way home on Boxing Day... the skies were leaden and the reserve was like one very large complete lake.  I've never seen it so flooded.

And with the wind, the waves were lapping on the 'shore' - this is a field!

 This fungi on a lone tree was fascinating and probably the most colourful item of the day!

I was walking in an anti-clockwise direction around the reserve and this is what greeted me.  The River Arun and River Stor are bursting their banks.

I had my wellies on which come up to about mid-calf length... but even so the water was so deep it was coming over the top..the the pathway was too deeply flooded for me to continue and I had to turn back.

The Fallow Deer were evident in large numbers.

The feeders by the visitor centre were being overwhelmed by birds

Great to see Coal Tits.. I used to have them visiting my garden when I lived in Surrey... I do miss the wildlife I had in that garden ...

Christmas Day - Plan B - but with Mergansers..

I had a very enjoyable day with my daughter (who has to work today - Christmas day) and grandson yesterday...so we had Christmas celebrations a day early.

Today, I was to visit my mother and brother to spend the day with them BUT, I have a flu-type cold and cannot risk passing this to Mum - last time she had a cold, she ended up in hospital.  So head ruled heart and I didn't go.  It was very strange not to be with them today.

Was getting a little stir crazy, so early afternoon I jumped in the car and drove to Widewater lagoon.  No Little Grebes around but the usual Cormorants and Little Egrets.

Little Egret

A group of Mallards with some 'strange' markings.

Cormorants

Five Mute Swan cygnets... Mum and Dad were further up the lagoon

AND a party of 9 Red-breasted Mergansers, of which 3 were male.
(Light was improving a little but they were far away....)

 

I then drove round to Shoreham Fort..

The rain clouds were gathering....

and the waves were crashing against the harbour wall..

A couple of Turnstones flew over and landed on the beach..

One of three brave souls surfing in the waves..

Good to blow away the cobwebs.... I was going to stop at Worthing pier..but.. the rain came back.

Merry Christmas..

Happy Christmas
to all my friends, readers and fellow bloggers

Until the rain stops, something sunny to cheer on the day :D