Shine.

Tuesday the sun was still shining so a bit of a drive about was in order. The day wasn't lacking in sightings by any means but it could have been closer! A decent list of species including Black-throated Diver, Black Guillemot, Northern Wheatear, WT Eagle and a group of 22 GN Diver and the best the camera had was a Greylag Goose. 

A couple of summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe were never close enough and a Mountain Hare was keeping tabs on the proceedings.

Plenty of Buzzard were on show through the day and a couple of Red-throated Diver were nice to get. A Grey Heron struggled with a fish but eventually managed to get it down.

There is usually something that will put a shine on the day and todays offering was a cracking Slavonian Grebe. It paraded around in the sunshine on a flat calm sea - just the best!

It left eventually but not in any great hurry as it got airborne enough to run across the water - fantastic!

Wednesday the sun was still shining. A bit of commotion from the gulls alerted me to the presence of a WT Eagle - a nice way to start the day.

I eventually got out just after lunch for a trip to the garage with the odd deviation along the way. Good light and a Lapwing - you can't fail.

The Lapwing can match it's good looks when on the ground with a transformation into a black and white acrobat when it takes flight. You could spend a whole day watching these birds and never get bored. This one is that good it only needs one wing to fly;-)

A real poser next. I was just stepping out of the car when a Skylark flew in right beside me. As you can see this bird has been in front of the camera before - the confident look over the shoulder, the raised crest, the glint in the eye and a happy smile...brilliant!

You can't make these things up...I'd put the camera down and started the engine and as I looked up there was a WT Eagle flying past. I just watched this one fly along, gaining height and collecting an escort of Buzzards. A first winter Glaucous Gull was quite approachable and looked good in the sunshine as I paid a quick visit to the beach.

The weather is forecast to change and it was easy to see that happening as the fog rolled in off the sea.

I managed to bump the year list up to 100 with a Linnet and then increased it by one with an elusive Yellowhammer. I saw this bird out of the corner of my eye as I was driving so I hauled in for a better view. I fired off a couple of shots just before a passing vehicle put the bird off.