Big wader day

Dungeness RSPB - overcast, rain , nw 2 - There`s nothing like a bit of wet weather at this time of year to force down a few migrant waders, but what we witnessed today was exceptional to say the least. First thing this morning while the heavy rain was battering down CP counted 328 Redshanks, 58 Greenshanks and 27 Curlew Sandpipers on Burrowes from Firth hide; the Redshank count must`ve been something of a record for Dungeness. By the time I arrived most had already moved on, but there was still a flock of 50 Redshanks present.
  Over the road from Screen hide a flock of 10 Wood Sandpipers soon upped and away leaving one behind, while hundreds of Sand and House Martins skimmed over the water. Elsewhere across the site numerous Black-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank, Knot, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, Snipe, Dunlin, Common, Green, Wood and Curlew Sandpipers came and went throughout the day. The numbers of Redshanks and Greenshanks through was quite astonishing; I heard both species flying over near continually and the exact figures we can only guess at, but probably c500 and c100 respectively.

                                Some of the todays migrating Redshanks

                                Temminck`s Stints, Burrowes

  And then this afternoon, the icing on the cake, two Temminck`s Stints paused in front of Firth hide affording superb views. Having missed the one earlier in the month it was good to catch up with this scarce and tiny little passage migrant.
  Carrying on with the wader theme a check of the beach from Littlestone at low tide produced all the usual Curlews and Oystercatchers, 10 Dunlins, 20 Redshanks, eight Barwits, five Knots, two Spotted Redshanks (rare here) and four Ringed Plovers. On Lade south the margins attracted several Common and Green Sandpipers, two Greenshanks and a Redshank, plus several more Greenshanks, (including a flock of 15) and a Whimbrel over.
  In all at least 21 species of waders moved through the peninsula today, a most memorable and unprecedented event the like of which I`ve not witnessed before in over 50 years of birding.