Wash Wader Ringing Group

Thursday 8th August

No recce since the decision had already been taken to use the strimmed site at Terrington (E). First arrivals at the farm at 16:00 swept the floor and did much of the setting up of base before going to set at 20:00 by which time most of the team expected that evening had arrived. Setting relatively straight forward since pegs had been left from last time and the same nets were in use. Finished as much as possible well before dark although a tangled jiggler delayed final departure.

Friday 9th August

Up 04:30, following a disturbed night with rain on and off all night. Despite the dampness and the threat of more rain to come decoys were set. In position a little late and the first 20 Curlew landed in the catching area whilst the phone line between base and the hide was being set up. Numbers built to 50 before being disturbed. Curlew soon returned to land with the decoys but the Redshank now landing were just landward of the nets. When the Curlew numbers reached 75 decided to take a catch rather than hope Redshank moved in to the area.

The number of ringed Curlew came as a surprise, especially as two were colour ringed foreign (Germany and Denmark) birds. Catch dealt with in wet conditions so on return to base all the equipment had to be spread round the barn to attempt to dry it out.

Recces had found:- Terrington (E); To east of mist netting pools, 800 Curlew, 500 Black/bar tailed Godwit, 500 Redshank, 500+ Dunlin. Well out on tide edge, 5000+ Dunlin, 1000 Grey Plover, 500 Redshank, 200 Curlew, 200 Bar-tailed Godwit.

Terrington (W); 300 Redshank on the borrow pit. Prepared potato field (last month's set aside), 200 Oystercatcher, 200 Grey Plover, 1000 Dunlin and 200 Redshank.

Although the weather was a concern, decided to set in two saltmarsh sites, reusing the morning site and to the east of the white barn. Food at 16:30 and pouring down when time to go with grey skies all round. At this point decided against manning but when skies cleared half an hour later, NAC's enthusiasm motivated the team in to giving one set a try. A mix of real and plastic decoys were set. Very soon after getting in to position Curlew numbers built up to 15, a concern since after the morning catch something other than Curlew was required! The break in the weather did not last long and the team under camouflage netting near the nets got poured on! Once this deluge had stopped 30 Curlew landed in the area and were joined very briefly by up to 40 Redshank. From then on, Redshank and Dunlin landed at the creak edge just beyond the nets and although a limited number spread in to the nets it was very difficult to work out how many. Decided it was less than 30 at all times so did not consider firing. Despite the predicted height being just lower than the morning, water started to enter the catching area. When both sides inoperable, gave up much to the relief of base which was also beginning to flood. Initial intentions had been to remove all equipment but with an approaching thunderstorm only things likely to be affected to be affected by water were retrieved the rest being left for collection later.

Saturday 10th August

Up 04:30. Despite a gloomy forecast the weather improved throughout the day. The nets set to the east of the Terrington (E) barn were manned, a small group picking up the abandoned other set whilst the rest of the team got in position. Friday evenings tide had just reached the net set leaving pools in the catching area and in cannon holes of one net. Decoys only set in the net with dry cannons but the first Curlew chose to land in the 'wrong' net. The main concentration was in any case behind the area so JG twinkled. Despite birds not being very keen on the netting area ended up with 60 Dunlin, 20 Grey Plover and 20 Redshank eight to twelve yards from the net with wet cannons. With little prospect of improvement unless a big flock landed (which would probably have been too many at this stage of the tide!) decided to take a catch. Only two cannon fired and no birds caught.

Having picked up equipment and eaten breakfast, all the options / recce information reviewed:- Terrington (E); 2000 Dunlin on tussocks at sea edge. Birds flew towards causeway but too much saltmarsh left for them to need to use it.

Bund area; Two hours before tide, Golden Plover flying about. 3-400 seen flying round back of inner Bund.

On a Terrington (C) field, 1500 Dunlin, 500 Curlew, 400 Grey Plover but with all the recent rain this field very soggy.

Side of Nene; One hour before tide, odds and sods on rocks but then pilot boat came along and wake flooded area!

Terrington (W); Not re-recced as ridged field not suitable for catching Holbeach (C); Best option a cultivated pea field. 2000 Golden Plover seen there. An hour before tide birds seen to be landing on the marsh. A maximum of 200 Oystercatchers seen on the Holbeach (C) field. Horseshoe area, reccied on both Friday tides. No major flocks seen. Saltmarsh came close to being covered and would only be suitable for catching on lower tides. 100 each of Curlew and Oystercatcher on a small field. Wainfleet area, also reccied on both Friday tides. Birds on up to six offshore areas including one island that would be suitable for catching. Approximate numbers, 40000 Knot, 5000 Barwit, 5000 Oystercatcher in total. 10-20,000 on the possible catching site.

An added consideration was the team was due to be joined by a party of school children and teachers who wanted to make a documentary film about young peoples understanding of climate change. After deliberation it was decided that about 2/3 of the team should go to Wainfleet for the evening tide, leaving the remaining 1/3 with the film crew to man a site in the Terrington area. Even with the drive to Wainfleet this left some spare time and many of the team went out to the inner Bund to prepare a suitable catching area for the Sunday morning, the previous one and stone hide having been washed away in a winter storm. On return to base it was discovered the film crew and entourage had arrived and was considerably larger than we had been led to believe. All the Wainfleet contingent departed by 14:00 and had a meal on the sea wall at Wainfleet before walking out to the island. Two half nets set firing inland. In position well before the first birds arrived, the base camp contingent being under camouflage netting at the southern end of the island and eventually joined by ten seals hauled out within a few metres. The number of birds predicted on the recces streamed past, over the area used for mist netting last Autumn but only some of the Oystercatchers chose to land on the island and these beyond the nets. With no means of moving these it was a question of waiting to see if any of the Knot flocks still in the air over Skegness returned. They did not but large numbers of Sandwich Terns started to use the island and spread in to the catching area. After some deliberation as to what constituted a worthwhile catch of these for the Group jiggling was attempted but never succeeded in clearing the safety area before the jiggler broke.

Back at Terrington, with continued dry weather (despite the forecast) the field had dried enough to be a suitable catching area so the decision was taken to set there rather than the logistically more difficult saltmarsh option. Two nets set and manned but apart from Golden Plover which were twinkled no catch presented itself. The Terrington team (including the children and teachers; the film crew went to a hotel!) were asleep by the time the Wainfleet team returned and few even noticed the latter getting in to bed.

Sunday 11th August

The Wainfleet team, having been the last to bed were also the first up at 04:30. Walked out to the inner Bund to set a single half net. In position nearly three hours before tide. As soon as the tide reached the back of the Bund about 250 Turnstone arrived and were soon followed by 500 Redshank. Most of these were behind the hide. Twinkling put about 150 in front of the nets but too far out to be certain of catching them. Waited for the tide to push them closer and considering firing when all lifted. This lost many of the Redshank and the Turnstone mainly landed beyond the catching area. Twinkling from the other direction pushed some of these in to the catching area and rather than risk another twinkle decided to fire.

Meanwhile the team on the field had got in to position and soon had Golden Plover well scattered and a maximum of 5 in the catching area at any one time. Small numbers of Dunlin then arrived but joined Golden Plover all over the field. Harriers over the field persuaded the Goldies to leave but despite moving the decoys nothing else was interested in landing. Some birds used an nearly field but were not twinkled due to it being a WeBs count day. The teams reunited for breakfast after which many people left. The dates sheet had only indicated that Monday was possible and, if anything was to be tried, it was expected to be the causeway site. Information available indicated that the birds had not used this site, preferring instead to go to a field which was initially thought to be harvested peas but on closer inspection turned out to be peas awaiting harvesting. Hence this was not an option but a note from the WeBs counter in the Bund area suggested that a Terrington (W) field with 1000 Curlew near the ridged field with 500 Grey Plover could be an option. Sufficient people were interested in staying on to make this a realistic option so permission was sought and granted. As much sorting out of the barn as possible was done before the majority left. The remainder set a clap net pair of nets on the harvested pea and then spent the evening in the King William.

Monday 12th August

Official get up time 06:15 but several people up before the alarm went off. Still dry and warm. Two people in each of the hides with the remaining two at base ready to drive vehicles on the field and to twinkle. Some time before the first Curlew arrived and this went straight in with the decoys. This was soon followed by about 150 more of which about 75 landed in the catching are, a further 10 on or close to the net an the rest behind. Waited to see how things would develop rather than jiggle, but something disturbed the flock and all left. Quite a long wait before birds returned to the field and then although some Curlew landed in the catching area, most chose to land behind the nets. Numbers increased until about 1000 birds on the field, mainly Curlew but also including Bar-tailed Godwit. By now the flock had spread to also being between the hides and the nets. Due to low hide position very difficult to see what was in catching area but thought to be few. Use of the jiggler cleared a line through the flock enabling safety to be seen. After some discussion decided the best way to twinkle was for a person from the hide to go along the ditch and briefly show themselves. After doing this a couple of times close inspection of the catching area confirmed birds round the decoys but still very difficult to gauge numbers. Decided further twinkling unlikely to improve things so decided to fire.

After dealing with the catch, returned to the barn for breakfast, final tidying up and departure.