Wash Wader Ringing Group

Thursday 5th September

PLI and SB arrived early afternoon. Although the Group's new base is very close to the farm, it had been decided that for a number of practical reasons to be based at the farm for this trip. Hence a quick visit to the base, followed by much work to make the barn ready for the rest of the team to arrive. Terrington (W) recced at high tide but insufficient water to wet the borrow pits and birds stayed at the tide edge. Several hundred Oystercatchers on saltmarsh. 100 seals hauled out at the end of a creek. Many of those expected this evening had arrived by 18:00 and ate at the barn before setting on the strimmed site. Bed 22:30.

Friday 6th September

Up 04:00. Decoys set in darkness. Although small numbers of Curlew, Grey Plover and Ringed Plover in the catching area the majority stayed on the tide edge keeping low and hence not seeing decoys. 5000 Dunlin remained on mud at Terrington(E). Eventually 30 Curlew in the catching area but did not attempt to catch these as other species wanted for preference. Moving cattle lost these birds and the attempt was abandoned shortly after high tide. Recces:- Terrington (E); 30 Greenshank / 8 Redshank on borrow pit towards Ongar Hill. Curlew, an later other species, used the second strimmed area. Terrington (W); 25 Redshank on borrow pit after it had flooded. Lots of birds on tide edge but no catchable site. Left nets set and after breakfast set further nets at Terrington (E). One was on the Greenshank borrow pit and the other the second strimmed area. Food at 15:00 and all three sets manned for the evening tide. At the nets left over from the morning, little happened for a long time with birds passing on the tide edge. Four live Curlew decoys briefly attracted part of a large flock and, of the many that landed, approximately 20 were in the catching area. This situation did not last long and nothing else took any interest. The two nets set during the afternoon could be watched from a single hide on the sea wall. As with the other net there was little movement to begin with, possibly due to the strong wind and birds being reluctant to move. Six Greenshank in other net. A twinkle on the saltmarsh confirmed birds wanted to stay at the tide edge. The Greenshank numbers were increasing so that net fired.

Soon abandoned the other net sets and the whole team dealt with this catch. Back at base just before it started to pour down.

Saturday 7th September

Up 04:00. In position to man the two remaining sets of nets under cover of darkness. Once again, birds largely staying on the tide edge and those birds that did pass near the original set of nets did not look interested. As water reached the catching area a few Grey Plover and then some Dunlin did land in the area (and over the nets) but by then it was too late. Gave up and rescued some equipment. On the easterly set of nets up to 10 Grey Plover in the area. Twinkling by Andre and (more successfully) by the cows put birds into the area but the 30 or so Dunlin were right in the centre and hence might have been missed. This improved to 300 Dunlin plus 50 Grey Plover and Redshank but with a rapidly rising tide these could not be taken for fear the site would flood before a large could be dealt with. By the time the tide had turned most of the Dunlin had been lost but replaced by nearly 100 mixed Redshank / Grey Plover. Fired but a cannon failed to fire and the nets only went a short distance due to water.

As all sites now wet, collected all equipment. One theory as to why birds were staying at the tide edge more than a month previously was that it is now the shooting season.

Recces had found:- Terrington (W) [MW]; No birds over the sea wall. 2000 Golden Plover in the area on two fields
Holbeach (C) [JG]; Just 2 Curlew but lots of gulls on one field.
Wainfleet [JK / AK]; The islands towards Gibraltar Point had lots of birds
Inner Bund; droppings on the rocks.

The whole team went to Terrington (W) to set on two close fields on the outer reclaim ready for the morning and then split in to two teams for the evening tide:- Bund team: Just one net set in front of the stone hide. Small numbers of Turnstone started on the Boston end of the Bund and Redshank landed 20 yards behind the hide, building up to 6-800. 500 Dunlin and other species joined these and a twinkle was attempted. All but 100 Redshank left and some Dunlin / Turnstone landed out from the net. Waited for tide to push these in range and many Dunlin were lost but decided against a further twinkle before firing.

One of the ringed birds set a new longevity record for the species, being ringed in 1967 at Snettisham.
Had to wait for the tide to drop off for the mile long walk back to the cars, by which time it was dark. As a first for the group GPS navigation was used to find the way since there was only a narrow route between creeks on either side. On leaving the site the coastguard, who had been informed earlier of our presence, were notified that we had finished. Advising them proved to be a good move since they had received one 999 call from a concerned member of the public.

Sunday 8th September

Similar get up time to previous two days. The two nearby at Terrington (W) were manned with a common base camp at the inland side of the fields. On the re-germinating pea field decoys set included both Golden and Grey Plover plus a few Oystercatchers Gull decoys were put outside the nets and attracted about 250 large gulls. Curlew and the smaller grey waders then landed the other side of the gulls. A car along the end of the field had more effect than expected and cleared the field. Thereafter 2000 Golden Plover and up to 1000 Grey Plover on the field with odd ones in the catching area but no serious interest in that area. Meanwhile the stubble field was having more success and Curlew were landing both in the nets and elsewhere on the field. Twinkling was carried out to improve the situation and eventually fired after clearing safety, catching:-

Further recces had been done on the morning tide:- Terrington (E); Nothing over the sea wall other than gulls. Some birds appeared to be using sea walls and causeways but not investigated further due to WeBs count. Bund area; Nothing on fields. Terrington (W); 100 Ringed Plover on the Nene edge field. Otherwise few seen. Holbeach (C); Knot and Dunlin stayed on the tide edge. On one field 600 Curlew and 600 Barwit. On another field 1000 Curlew, 600 Black-tails and 200 Grey Plover. Lincs. fields; Two possible options although one could do with a further recce. Set nets on the two Holbeach fields during the afternoon and then manned the two unfired nets at Terrington (W) in the hope of getting Golden Plover. The birds had other ideas and used fields one reclaim inland. Twinkling failed to move them towards the field with nets and the birds on the Nene edge field disappeared when moved. Gave up as light failing and lifted the nets.

Monday 9th September

Up 0445 for hide teams with the rest following ¾ hour later. Eastern field: First Curlew landed with decoys but with misty conditions the next to arrive did not see these and landed elsewhere. These were not moved and then further Curlew and then the Godwit landed with them. Twinkling got 40 Curlew nearer the nets and these were moved before the Barwit thought of landing with them. No further interest in the field. Western field: Two nets had been set firing inland on this cultivated field with rather a lot of regrowth / weeds. Four Black-wit decoys in the net and four Curlew just outside. Some concern because the adjacent field had tractors working on it. Less than an hour before tide when the first birds arrived and these divided themselves between a stubble and the worked field. A twinkle on the stubble and some one getting out of a car at base dealt with birds on the worked field. Curlew landed on the catching field but from the decoys and away from the nets. Numbers built to 500+. Then the Black-wit arrived but instead of going with the decoys landed with the Curlew. A large lift-off turned out to be the Curlew leaving, the remaining flock being mainly Black-wit. Waited for this huge flock (3000?) to be really settled before twinkling. Phil's Freelander, driven by Jen Smart was used as the twinkle vehicle and started at the far end of the field. A 'tractor' twinkle was done all the way down the field but it was not until the vehicle got within 50 yards that the birds reacted. 100 Oystercatchers landing with the flock caused some complications as these were more jumpy. Eventually the twinkle had some effect and birds moved in to the area. With some birds obviously being in a hollow in net 2 the twinkling vehicle which was very close to the nets was consulted about numbers. With the expectation of 150 - 200 both nets were fired.

The team from other field were quickly summonsed to assist. Soon after extraction had finished the predicted rain started and most of the dealing with the catch was done under improvised shelters. Nevertheless, dealing with the catch went very smoothly and 70 birds were colour ringed. Most of the team stayed fairly dry until the equipment had to be picked up but then got soaked doing that. With an evening tide that was too late to cannon net and too early to mist net the evening was taken off. Apart from occasional showers the rain had stopped. Many people took the opportunity to visit the new WWRG base up the road and have showers (!). One of the more bizarre events of the evening saw MW, DW and PLI meeting a local antiques dealer at the new base so that the dealer could give a valuation on a bed left behind by the previous occupant!

Tuesday 10th September

The rain had caused plans to be revised so that instead of setting on a Lincolnshire field during Monday afternoon the team had got up at 03:45 and driven to set before the morning tide. This plan was partially thwarted since the gate we had been assured would be unlocked proved to be locked at 05:30. Fortunately entry via sea walls and rough roads proved possible for 4WD vehicles and the gate was opened at 06:00. Consequently two rather than three nets were set. Curlew arrived over an hour before high tide and joined the decoys behind the nets. These spread though the nets but with a few in the safety area. The Godwit then arrived and spiralled down on to the field. PLI was sent to twinkle in an adjacent sugar beet field but because of the height of the beet the birds could not see him at a distance so when they did react it was violently. Briefly there were 50-200 catchable in net 2 but with possible safety problems it was impossible to make a decision in the 10 seconds they were down. After this most birds left the field and although single figures of Curlew in the catching area no realistic opportunity to fire presented itself.

Recces were done by people who did not want to get up at 03:45! Terrington (W) [MS / JS]; Nothing other than Golden Plover on fields, although lots of Curlew and Dunlin on and over the saltmarsh.
Bund Road area [MS / JS]. A few Curlew on a field. Otherwise Dunlin and Grey Plover flew the tide out.
Terrington (E) [NAC, Liz M, RH]; Substantial flock observed to go round back of inner Bund. Large flock formed out from the causeway and as marsh covered 50 Redshank on it. Other birds flying past joining when recciers left.
Towards Ongar Hill; Birds used the pools and when the saltmarsh covered some Curlew went to a pea field but the grey waders headed for Kings Lynn.

Many of the team spent the afternoon setting two nets on the Bund but PI and KS sorted out the garage at the new base ready to receive equipment. These jobs having been accomplished, teams departed at 18:00 to set three lines of mist nets and the cannon net on the causeway, to be finished by dusk in order to keep out of the way of any wildfowlers. Food in the barn. New tape lures using bigger and more robust speakers were used, with new wader flock tapes played on them. The three pools used were the one straight out from the white barn, the main pool to the right of the white barn and a pool further towards Kings Lynn that we had not used before (it only caught about 30 birds). Despite it seeming to get dark very late it soon became apparent that there would be a good catch with the line of nets playing the Redshank tape being particularly productive.

A new lighting system in the barn utilising a portable generator proved very successful although there was some doubt as to whether the petrol in it would be sufficient. In the event it just lasted until processing was complete at about 1:30. This proved to be our best nights mist netting since 1978 and the Redshank were particularly valuable.

Wednesday 11th September

Up 06:30 for the Bund, 0715 for the causeway. The Bund: In position in time with the team well covered. When the first birds landed within 5 yards of the net decided to let these build up naturally. However the flock grew to 250 but going away from the nets. JS sent to dissuade any further build in that direction and with an expectation of 1-2000 birds using the Bund hoped they would spread in to the catching area. Maximum numbers in the event were 200 Redshank, 400 Dunlin and 100 Turnstone. Although about 90 juvenile Dunlin in the area decided to twinkle but this lifted everything. For a while prospects looked bleak but a flock of Turnstone and Dunlin landed below base camp. Twinkled these which put up to 150 in front of the nets.

The Causeway: Team except PI (in hide) and MW (at base ready to twinkle) hidden below covering very close to the nets. Once marsh beginning to cover a flock of 20 Redshank formed at the end of the spit so things were looking promising. A passing Marsh Harrier disturbed these and thereafter only small numbers present. At high tide still some marsh left and birds not showing much inclination to come to the causeway. The Bund team firing did not change things but about 10 birds on the edges which might have been catchable. Partly to give experience of lifting on this unusual site the net was fired but all the birds beat it out of the sides. The teams met up at base and did much of the tidying up and a number of people left during the afternoon. Timing for setting mist nets the same as the previous evening due to the need to be off the saltmarsh at dusk. Two lines set. One on the main pool to the right of the barn (9 nets) and one near the causeway site (5 nets) Food at the white barn before tape lures put out. Very dark night with the new moon having already set. It soon became apparent that it was going to be another productive evening, despite having just over half the nets set and a smaller team.

Most of catch processed, finishing about 2:30 a.m. Back at the farm, most of the team relaxed with a beer before finally getting to bed just after 3 a.m.!

Thursday 12th September

Miguel had to be at King's Lynn station to catch an 06:55 train so PI took him there, returning to bed again. Team started to rise about 08:30. The barn was cleared by early afternoon and the equipment stored in the new base.