Beachcombers

A very sociable weekend (just to show that being a nature blogger isn't - necessarily - a solitary anti-social life). Some MX5 owners had a run along the South Downs, finishing at Eastbourne - some very narrow roads taxed the GPS systems to the limit but fortunately a pub was found.

Returning from Eastbourne, a stop at Pett pools was rewarded by some excellent close views of a wide variety of waders unfortunately uncaptured by camera - wood , green and curlew sandpipers, a ruff [or was it a pectoral sandpiper, subsequently ID'd?], a score each of dunlin and lapwings, avocets, snipe, common and spotted redshanks and a greenshank - and a distant but unmistakable little stint. A marvellous place at this time of the year.

Back at Kingsdown, a meal of fish'n'chips was eaten on the beach, and a fire was lit to warm us as darkness fell. When the flames died down, the strand was scoured for fuel - dry seaweed kept the fire going but we were kippered by the end of the evening.