In a welcome change to the weather the sun came out and wildlife stirred from it's winter rest.
Two Marmalade Hoverflies made the first appearance in the garden, one using the flower of a Dandelion, the other inspected the South African Euryops Daisy bush. A little later in the morning a Ladybird was seen in flight in a Cokeham garden, just west of Lancing. From there a report of a Red Admiral that had been seen some two weeks earlier in mid January. Other good news that a breeding pair of Barn Owls had returned to the purpose built nesting box.
A Pair of Sparrowhawks and a pair of Kestrels are both known to live in the area, recently they have all been involved in squabbles in the garden which is at the edge of the Cokeham Reed Beds.
In the afternoon a chance to walk on Lancing Ring with the sun shining and feeling warm when sheltered from a cool northern wind. Good views were had of a Kestrel perching on Hawthorn overlooking the Vale of Halewick Lane.
A fellow walker reported that they had heard on good authority that Red Kite were breeding nearby to the Sompting Down area.
An exersize to reveal the inhabitants of Gorse bushes was carried out with a white cloth held under a bush while it was tapped with a stick.
The insects that were collected were all small and hard to identify but some were possibly some kind of Seed Weevil, having as they did, a small snout.
Among them a 7-Spot ladybird made it the second of the day.
On a bright yellow gorse flower a Honeybee was busy probing for pollen.
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