Thursday 10th March
PI, SJD, MW and DW arrived at Base during the evening, ready to recce on Friday.
Friday 11th March
SJD up at 04:30 and the rest an hour later to do recces. Dry, cold and strong wind.
| Heacham Far North | A12 Oystercatchers and 30+ Turnstone, the latter feeding on the tideline. Also 50 Snow Bunting. Met CK who reported Sanderling (400) all feeding out of the Wash between Holme and Brancaster. |
| Heacham South | 200 Oystercatchers by tump and well up the beach. |
| Snettisham North | At 06:30, 2-300 Oystercatchers but these were joined by a further 400 which had been roosting on the new concrete sea defence when these were disturbed. Spreading well back from water. All 7-800 still present well after high tide |
| Snettisham Sailing Club Bay | 500 Dunlin and small numbers of Oystercatchers |
| Wainfleet Islands | 1000-1500 Oystercatchers on the South island. About half hour before tide Knot and Godwit arrived, some landing on the end of the South island and the rest on the North island. Much disturbance from raptors but at the peak approximately 5000 grey waders present. |
SJD then walked out to the islands to inspect the potential catching sites before the RAF range commenced operations. Having completed this, he returned to his vehicle, unlocked the cab section and put the keys in the ignition. He then went round to the back section, closing the cab door and accidentally locking it in the process. After several phone calls involving PI at base, the RAF control tower, the local Ford dealer and the RAC it seemed the cheapest alternative was to break a window, a job for which a lump hammer was conveniently available in the rear section of the truck! This done, SJD visited the RAF tower to liaise about plans and to inspect the possible accommodation there before returning to base. By now the team had increased with the arrival of NC and plans were discussed. Original plans had been to try to catch on the Wainfleet islands on the Saturday morning but with strong northerly winds forecast, marooning the team on an island in the Wash did not seem attractive so Snettisham North was chosen. The rest of the daylight hours were taken up with a droppings recce of the bund (PI; nothing worthwhile found), food shopping (MW & DW) and shed building (all). After a meal and the rest of the team arriving, four nets were set. Back to base in time to be in bed 23:00.
Saturday 12th March
Up 05:00. Very windy. On site shortly after 06:00. PI observing from the north. It soon became apparent the Oystercatchers were down from the nets and that there were about 500 grey waders (mainly Knot) at the tide edge. To start with all were outside the 8 yard markers but soon pushed back so the closest bird was at 5 yards. Then another surge pushed a worthwhile catch in to the catching area but also two birds too close to the nets and this quickly grew to about 10. SD went to the jiggler to jiggle but this had no effect. PI then considering whether there were enough in the adjacent net to be worth firing that instead but worried that most were near the edge of the catching area and with firing into a strong wind might not be caught. At this point the Knot lifted, causing the Oystercatchers to be nervous (all the red bills were suddenly visible). This presumably caused the birds close to the nets to walk towards the main flock. Noticing the safety area was now clear net 3 was quickly fired. No birds landed in the water and some of the net and birds landed behind the line where the net had been set. Despite having set about 10 yards behind the expected high tide line, by high tide the water was threatening the nets. These were picked up and ringing and processing done behind the sea wall.
| Species | New | Control / Retrap | Totals |
| Oystercatcher | 100 | 37 | 137 |
| Dunlin | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Totals | 101 | 37 | 138 |
Back at base, plans were discussed after breakfast. With the wind due to moderate it was decided Wainfleet was feasible for the morning, subject to checking where the tide reached on this morning's tide. Hence SJD and SD drove round to check the site. This confirmed the wind had pushed water away from the Lincolnshire coast and the tide had cut by a few inches. Apart from preparing equipment to visit Wainfleet, further work was done on the new shed the roof being in place by the time the AGM was scheduled to start.
The business of the AGM was conducted between 17:15 and 18:30, being followed by an excellent three course meal, masterminded by MW & DW. Petit Fours and Port concluded the evening. Early bed.
Sunday 13th March
Up 02:30 (!) for drive round to Wainfleet. Walked out to the southern island in darkness to set two full size narrow nets about 50 metres apart with a low close hide and base at the other end of the island. SJD and SD in the hide. Oystercatchers gradually assembled on the mud off from the island, eventually coming ashore mainly between the two nets but with some in both. Gradually further birds arrived and this included some Bar-tailed Godwit and, fewer, Knot. With an expected catch of over 100 Oystercatchers and, if the net went well, some Godwit, the near net was fired. This did not go to plan and as a result a smaller catch than expected was taken.
| Species | New | Control / Retrap | Totals |
| Oystercatcher | 22 | 6 | 28 |
During processing several flocks of waders passed close by the island and a flock of 50 Sanderling briefly landed but not for long enough to allow a check to be made for colour rings.
With a relatively early finish decided to drive back to Base for breakfast rather than find some locally in a supermarket café as had been the original plan. Following breakfast, those not staying for an evening mist netting session at Wolferton left. The rest did yet more work on the shed and / or got some rest.
Departed 16:20 to set mist nets on the Wolferton pool. Fish and chips arrived with NC and MW who had stayed behind working on the shed. Tape lure put out as soon as fully dark and three net rounds each brought about the same number of birds back.
| Species | New | Control / Retrap | Totals |
| Dunlin | 46 | 5 | 51 |
| Redshank | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Grey Plover | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Bar-Tailed Godwit | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Curlew | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Oystercatcher | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Totals | 56 | 6 | 62 |
Team back at base before 23:00 and time for a quick glass of Port left over from the AGM before bed.
Monday 14th March
Some, due to be at work in the morning, had to leave early but NC, JC, MW, DW and PI finished off the construction of the shed, including knocking a way between the shed and garage, and cleaned the house up. Finally left early afternoon.