Birding in the rain

I met with Simon Currie and Phil Flynn on Sunday morning at the small car park at the end of Pennington Lane. A walk on Pennington Marshes was in order, however it was raining bucketloads. After a quick discusssion and seeing a flock of about 50 Golden Plover fly over we wondered what we should do?? We did what any sensible wildlife enthusiast would and headed back to a Hotel in Lymington for cups of coffee.
After an hour or so the rain subsided a little and we wandered off down to Lymingotn Reedbeds for some fresh air. As we walked across the road brideg we got our first surprise - a car drove through a kerbside puddle as we walked by and soaked us!! At least we wouldn't be bothered by the rain now.
Very few birds around, just a Cormorant and a few Mallards, however as we walked down the lane and track along the east side of the reedbeds we did see several plants. Lesser Celandine gave welcome splashes of yellow in many places and Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage was fully in flowers in carpets in some places.
Simon and Phyl pointed out the fungi to me - Yellow Brain Fungus, Cramp balls and a small bracket fungi - Stereum hirsutum - I must haved missed some off too.
Not a lot of wildlife, but great fun, especially as I have now dried out
Sinmon Curson