At the seaside......

Slight change of plan today.. I was going birding but decided instead, to enjoy my grandson's company on a trip into Worthing.  He had things he wanted to do and I wanted to 'practice' with a camera... so off I went to the pier and the beach.

The first few pics are taken with Panasonic G3 and the 45-200 lens.

Standing on the pier and watching an empty beach..

Gulls can't read :D

And Panasonic GF1 with 14mm f2.5

.8

Intermittently sunny but a bitingly cold wind - and I saw someone in swimming!!

WWT Arundel - a short visit..

I was on a hospital visit this afternoon and as WWT Arundel was virtually on my way, I popped in for a bit.  Very quiet in the main... heard both Reed and Sedge Warblers, Blackcaps and Cettis but saw none of them... such well hidden birds.

But it was nice to stretch my legs.  The 'Collection' Birds posed nicely and numbers of ducklings everywhere.  When I arrived in the car park, I was advised to look out for a family of ducklings that had made it their own.

A few pics:

Bird on a mission!

Stalking bird..

American Wood duck... such srtiking markings

A Dunnock sang..

Not sure what Mr. Mallard was gazing at..

And the bird of the day?  A posing male Pheasant..

Not a bad visit at all.... There's a new(ish) Sand Martin bank - hope it gets its first residents this Spring...

Regents Park Birds and a Stile Antico Concert with another Byrd

We set off in misty murk and arrived in London in... mistier murk and the wet stuff... yes I know the gardens and we as a country need it... but...

Pete suggested Regent's Park and off we went.  Lots of birds and not all wild or native to this country.  Heard and saw male Blackcap who sang despite the rain.

I think this is either a Tulip or Judas tree?  So I'd be grateful for an ID please?

We only got a little damp in the rain and by the time we reached Wigmore Hall for the concert the skies were brightening...

Stile Antico and Wigmore Hall - wonderful singers who entertained us with (Easter related music):

Gibbons - Hosanna to the son of Daivd
Thomas Tallis - O Sacrum convivium, Salvator Mundi and thirdly In resurrectione tua
Sheppart - I give you a new commandment
Browne - Jesu, mercy, how may this be?
Victoria - O vos Omnes
De Lassus - Vide homo
Taverner - Dum transisset sabbatum
Lhertier - Surrexit pastor bonus and
Weelkes - Gloria in excelsis Deo

The singers returned for an encore which was Thomas Campion's - Never weather-beaten sail.

A lovely concert and wander around Regent's park - despite the rain!