Wash Wader Ringing Group

Thanks to Ben for the photos used on this page.

Friday 2nd December

PLI did recce of Heacham and Snettisham, having arrived at base the previous evening.
Snettisham North; Arrived just as light enough to see, about 07:10, and tide already falling. Nothing on this beach and a parked earth moving machine was near the public hide.
Heacham South; Recced by walking from Snettisham. No roost but on beach near and in front of cottages, a scattering of various waders including Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Grey Plover and Curlew, probably totalling 100+. Also, where the public road ends, 100 Lapwing.
Heacham North and Far North; Continued walking to recce this area. Small numbers of Oystercatchers and Turnstone assembling by groynes on Heacham North. Just 30 Oystercatchers on Heacham Far North.

By now it was about 1½ hours after tide. On the return walk,
Heacham South; Considerable number of waders (mainly Oystercatcher, Turnstone and a few Sanderling, totalling at least 300) spread along the tide edge, starting near the cottages. Also seen in the distance was a black mass on the beach above the mussel bed which is the first to uncover as the tide drops. This uncovered 2 hours after high tide before being able to observe exactly where the birds were.

Returned to base via Tesco for breakfast and food shopping for the weekend. The weather for the weekend forecast to be changeable, overnight rain having cleared and the recce being done with an offshore force 5 wind. Decided to set three nets at the cottages end of Heacham South, to cover the more extensive grot which might be attractive to the birds at high tide. Also to take a fourth net for a small team to put down at the falling tide site whilst the rest of the team picks up / deals with the birds from the first net set.

PLI sorted out equipment in daylight, the rest of the team assembling early evening. Nets set efficiently allowing time for an introduction session and briefing before bed.

Saturday 3rd December

Up 05:30 and arrived on site before first light. MS went on to beach as observer and as soon as it was light enough to see, 60-70 Lapwing behind the nets. As light improved realised there were Turnstone and Oystercatchers feeding in the grot, both in front of and beyond nets. The Lapwing leaving took the birds near the nets away.

This only left the option of trying to bring the remaining birds back to the nets so KC and M asked to twinkle. This got some into one net but they walked out the other end of the catching area. Further twinkling from the other end got some birds back in front so, with the tide already fallen off to 11 yards, fired.

Whilst most of the team dealt with the catch PLI, KC and TT went to the falling tide site and set a single net. Here Oystercatchers quickly joined the decoys and this grew to a flock of 20. Something disturbed these and smaller numbers came and went from near the net and decoys. Just organising the team to come along to be ready should birds arrive, when the chance of making a catch disappeared as the first mussels became exposed. Both groups picked up nets and returned to base for breakfast.

With the wind forecast to be at the upper limit of what is acceptable for mist netting, several members of the team went out to the saltmarsh to see what it actually felt like on the pool to be used. In practice it was not as strong as predicted but the pool had less water in than expected after the recent heavy rain. On the strength of this recce the decision was taken that mist netting was on but that the nets be set in a 'T' shape rather than the usual 'E' used on that pool. Returned to base to sort out equipment for mist netting and cannon netting in the morning, before setting the mist nets mid-afternoon. Food at base before setting the tape lure two hours before tide. By now the wind was relatively calm, vindicating the decision to mist net.

A net round with a limited number of people an hour before high tide produced most birds. Shortly after high tide most of the team went out to do a further net round and to take down the nets.

Sunday 4th December

Up 07:30. With no suitable high tide catching opportunity having been identified the plan was to try the falling tide site again. On site well before the point at which the net needed to be set. Once this point had been reached the net was quickly set whilst PLI got to the firing position and despatched twinklers and long stops in both directions. It did not take long for a few Oystercatchers to join the decoys and numbers of these, plus a few other grey waders, gradually grew in number. The twinklers on Heacham tried to bring along Oystercatchers from there but with only limited success. Beginning to wonder how long to wait when the flock had reached 60, albeit with some at the near end of the net and unlikely to be caught. At this point a flock of 200 Snow Bunting landed on the beach right by the far end of the net and quickly spread over it making firing impossible. By the time the Snow Bunting moved on, the Oystercatchers had walked out of the net.

TT came from base to try to twinkle these birds back in front of the nets but was only having limited success before they decided to fly. A few did return to the catching area but most went north. With the tide now well down and expecting the mussels to become exposed at any time prospects did not look good. However, a large flock of Oystercatchers suddenly appeared offshore from the south and circled round, the vast majority going to Snettisham North beach rather than join the birds in front of the catching area. KC now confirmed she had 250 Oystercatchers in the bay to the south. These she was asked to move. Again most chose to ignore the catching area and went north. Decided the chance of getting any substantial improvement in numbers before the mussels became exposed was low so fired.

Once again, the variety of species gave the numerous new people the opportunity to see different species in the hand and dealing with the catch was done at a leisurely pace. Returned to base for breakfast and departure early afternoon.