A very unpromising weather forecast of high winds and heavy showers was not enough to stop a LymNats walk at Lepe Country Park! We are made of sterner stuff than that, so there!
We set off from the lower car park to walk along the beach but it was high tide so we had to walk along the top path towards the WW2 D-day remains.
Phlebia tremellosa Jelly Rot © Glynis Payve
We were greeted at the top of the path to a Kestrel hovering and then perching in a pine tree. As we walked along there was a splendid array of fungi on one of the fallen Beech trees.
Kestrel © Chris
Robinson
When we reached the ponds there were several Redshanks, Brent Geese, Shovelers and Dunlins. The Cormorants were on their regular posts just offshore.
Cormorant © Glynis Payne
Cormorant © Glynis Payne 
Yellow Horned-poppy (left) and Sea Beet (right) © Glynis Payne
By now the tide had receded enough for us to walk back along the beach. Here we found quite a few ‘Mermaid’s purses’ along the strand line. The ones we found are the egg cases of Small-spotted catsharks (aka Dogfish). We also found Whelk eggs and Cuttlefish bones.
Small-spotted Cat-shark egg cased (Mermaid's Purses) © Maureen Fidkin
All along the walk back we were accompanied by Turnstones paddling amongst the seaweed at the water’s edge.
Turnstone © Chris
Robinson
We got a bit wet, but the rain had eased by the time we got to the car park so we walked on to look over the marshy area, Dark Water, where we saw lots of Teal, Wigeon, two Mute Swans and a Little Egret. CR and DP