Eight members joined Clive Hope from 0800 on Saturday morning in pleasant, increasingly warm, weather on the beach near Sea Lane Ferring, with a couple of passing Arctic Skuas the stars of the show.

A few waders in the shape of Whimbrels (c.8), Sanderlings (6) and Grey Plovers (2) , plus Cormorants (7), and Great Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls were seen heading east with three of the first named returning west at close range. A distant Gannet did likewise.

The two Arctic Skuas afforded good views at reasonably close range going east at 0830. Other waders included eight or nine Oystercatchers, three Little Egrets and a Turnstone plus the resident Herring Gulls.

An incoming Swallow was also spotted on an admittedly quiet morning while on the beach and in the neighbouring tamarisk were House Sparrows, Starlings, Carrion Crows, Wood and Feral Pigeons, a Dunnock and Wren making a total of 21 species for the morning.

Thanks to SDOS legend Clive Hope for another fantastic morning!