Another interesting day at Steart, spent most of the day watching the huge aggregations of Ringed plover (a total of 87, plus a flock of 9 which may have been part of the main group) and other associated waders. Dunlin built up during the day to about 30+ birds, with 4 Green sandpiper, 4 Avocet, and 3 each of both LRP and Greenshank. Around 1pm I noticed a smaller wader associating with the Ringed plovers and dunlin, which transpired to be a juvenile Little stint. I only managed a total of 5 minutes over a 3 hour period observing the bird, and it was always at a great distance - the combination of heavy rain and steamy optics made the scenario more complicated, and hopefully somebody else will catch up with this bird, as there were a couple of aspects of the plumage which didn’t quite fit Little stint to my mind (most obviously it was rather rufous in the crown, ear coverts & scapulars).

Glad you managed to catch up with them, very smart birds indeed.

Ooops, make that the stones not grey plover (year tick knocked off)

Thanks Daniel. Having dipped at Burnham I finally tracked down the 3 curlew sands at the evening high tide roost at Wall Common. They were then upstaged by two stunning summer plumaged grey plovers. Two year ticks in 10 minutes can’t be bad. Also 3 or 4 whimbrel.

Great morning at Steart, with 12 spp of wader on offer. There were three Curlew sand in the high tide roost first thing, including 2 birds moulting out of summer plumage but still looking mostly rufous. Plenty of birds out on the mud flats atm, including one of the near sum-plum Curlew sands - probaby the same individual Andy Slade had a few days ago . Looking very promising for the autumn!