West Dean Gardens, a new camera and a summer-like day out..

Pete came down for a visit today as we both wanted to visit Park Cameras which is now local to me.... oh it's like having a choccie shop on the doorstep and being on a diet!!

Anyway, purchases made we came back to my local farm shop for a cooked brekkie... as by then we were starving. I'd first been there with my grandson but today, disappointingly it wasn't as good... hey ho.

The sun was shining; it was wonderfully warm and we headed off for West Dean Gardens.. somewhere I've not been to for ages.

Although it wasn't a birding day as such we saw: Common Buzzards, Treecreeper, heard Great Spot and Green Woodpeckers, a Raven - first for me, a Red Kite - which was a great surprise, and, heard, several times a Chiff Chaff.!!

I was trying out a new camera so some are with the new one - straight out of the box and not read the manual yet and others with the tried and trusted!!

Taken with Panasonic G3 and 45-200mm lens.

Here we go:

These last two were taken at a very small church which passed on the way back which was St. Marys at Upwaltham... more further down the page.

and still at West Dean..
(taken with Canon 7D and 18-200mm lens)

 And, lovely to see a Red Admiral

Now.. here's a challenge.. I'm sure it's a moth -it was impossible to photograph and hovered in the air and very near flowers before landing on them... so if anyone can help please?
Sorry for the dreadful picture but wrong lens for this type of photograph!!

We had drinks and cake (no surprise there then!!) - Coffee and Walnut and Peach & Fig loaf - very nice - especially sitting outside in the sunshine... is it really March?.. it's stunning!!

And more of the church...

The plaque is in commemoration of those British, Australian, Canadian and American service personnel who were victims of the war and were stationed here.

and finally another very pretty drive home through the lovely sunlit countryside of Sussex!!