Wash Wader Ringing Group

Wednesday 6th September

Reccee: after giving up on catching, SLD went off to Wainfleet 10-20,000 knot out on the edge of the saltmarsh south of the islands. 10+,000 barwit. Very few oystercatchers on the islands. No birds came onto fields. Part of the team travelled via the main base to collect equipment and other team members before travelling around to Lincolnshire. Went straight out to the marsh and set a clap net pair on the saltmarsh out from the bend in the seawall by the Leverton Northern pumping station. In position by 16:30. Birds began moving south to north along the tide edge almost as soon as we were in position but showed no real interest in the decoys. Had at most one grey plover and 2 curlew catchable with, at one point, a nice mixed flock of several hundred birds well seaward of the nets. Tide came into the catching area, decoys began to swim so gave up. Most of team went off to the village hall to unpack, set up and sort out plans. Bed early.

Thursday 7th September

Recces: SGD Wainfleet 1000 oystercatchers on the islands which were well off covering. Didn’t see any knot or any birds on fields. Didn’t check far north end. A few Curlew went onto a disced stubble. No obvious fields for catching.
Control Tower Road. No oystercatchers. Some curlew and godwit but no obvious fields for catching. 
Horseshoe area – lots of suitable fields.
Track at Friskney – stubble field to north of cabbages suitable.
SLD : Saltmarsh around Wrangle. Two potential catching areas for curlew. One where tried last trip, one further north.
Freiston area – stubble field to north of pumping station, harvested cabbage to south.

Up at 03:00 – yuk! Nets were in good order having been flooded over on the previous tide. Set 4 plastic decoys in one net and 4 feather decoys in the other. Seemed to be in position in time as no evidence that birds were flying around in the dark whilst we were on the marsh. At first light, birds could be seen in the catching area. Tide was marching very quickly so decided to fire before getting flooded out. Base camp quickly at the nets and the catch was dealt with very efficiently. All birds were taken off the marsh and ringed and processed behind the seawall. Equipment was collected from the marsh after tide.

Decided to set a clap net pair on a strimmed area of stubble at Wrangle directly inland from the main gathering area for curlew and barwit out on the saltmarsh which would be manned on Friday morning. Then set a clap net pair out on the saltmarsh to man for this evening’s tide in approximately the same area as that used last trip.

PM Basecamp set decoys and got into position by 5pm. The hide party (SGD’s truck on the seawall) arrived later having done the washing up. Initially there was lots of movement north along the tide edge. As the tide began to rise, the barwit started gathering on the tide edge just south of the nets. Gained approximately 15 curlew into the catching area. The situation didn’t change re: numbers of birds for quite a while but then tide was suddenly fast approaching the catching area. 

Suddenly gained lots of birds but a combination of safety problems in the northern net and too many birds for the state of tide in the southern nets meant there was no firing window. 

Decided to sit it out rather than disturb the flock despite the decoys going under water because this was the flock that we were hoping to come onto the stubble field the following morning. That plan was changed when basecamp informed the hide that they were about to get flooded out and we decided to take pity on them. Gave up, picked up some kit and left the marsh. Went back to base and planned to return after tide with a small team to pick up kit. Went out again at 8pm but still too much water across the marsh. Back to base for beer and bed.

Friday 8th September

AM Reccee: RDF from Freiston area. c3000 Dunlin on a rough plough having come off a field further south. 3-400 Curlew on a disced cabbage by Freiston, 2-3 groups of Redshank c200 in total on the base of the seawall.
RMW – Wainfleet. The islands were exposed throughout the tide with lots of 1000s of oystercatchers. Lots of knot around by at 6am these moved through to Gibraltar Point. On fields, only 20-30 curlew inland feeding opposite the islands.  Between the northern and main control towers 400 Curlew in cabbages.
Main control tower south – 400-500 curlew.
Horseshoe – plough by the tower had 800 curlew and 100 barwit. No real flocks of birds found inland but many fields being worked.

Up at 04:30 – what a lie in! Set decoys and in position by 05:30 in hides with rest of team in vehicles to northern inland corner of stubble field. Initially 4 mallard came in to the field to feed on spilt grain. The waders were flying along the tide edge north and flying around on the marsh but not really looking inland. We always knew this field was going to be a longshot but had hoped that the birds using the cabbage field two south of us would be forced to use the stubble as the cabbages were by now quite big. Birds did move off the cabbages but streamed north over the marsh. Eventually, gained 4 curlew into the catching area with the decoys and decided to fire but the nets were slowed by long stubble and didn’t meet so we only caught one. Tried to give this to KS as a ringing tick but then realised it was a retrap. Processed bird, picked up kit and back to village hall for breakfast and to discuss plans and get organised to go out to Wainfleet that evening.

PM  Supper on seawall at 15:00. Joined by 3 from RSPB plus NAC and AM from the Terrington team. Walked out and set two narrow full nets on the middle of the south island. Hide island has moved and is now lower than in previous years.

 In position by 17:00. The first oystercatchers gathered off hide island at 17:15. These built to c1000 though regularly lost birds to the north - was the hide too obvious? Tide pushed the oystercatchers onto Island between hide and nets. At this stage had 1-200 grey plover and 1000 knot landing on the salicornia below the nets. Large number of oystercatchers arrived from Friskney, extending the flock back towards the nets but many lifting and carrying on northwards. The grey plover and knot moved onwards. Just before the tide flooded the hide a corner of the oystercatcher flock was within 10 yards so fired, rather than risking the birds leaving as they were not entirely settled. Tilleys invaluable for processing and a straightforward walk off.

Saturday 9th September

AM Reccee: AGC found one field c1mile south of the Wainfleet northern tower with 2000 mixed godwit and curlew on a cultivated field. No birds around the control tower.
Horseshoe. 1000 mixed curlew and godwit on a heavily ridged field.
DA – lots of goldies c2-300 going in on a young cabbage field.

Gulls arrived, goldies landed north of the set. Goldies and curlew landed south with more landing to the north of the nets. With more birds arriving we eventually had c30 in the vicinity of the catching area with 120 curlew and 80 grey plover to the south. A birdwatcher on the top of the seawall caused the curlew near the net to lift. Tried to vehicle twinkle but all birds left the field. c50-70 oystercatchers landed south of the nets and were vehicle twinkled which initially caused a good walk towards the catching area, but birds were clearly not happy with the decoys. We were just letting the situation settle before trying a bit more twinkling when two walkers on the seawall disturbed all the birds.

Back to base for food and to discuss plans. Part of team went out to set a clap net pair on a stubble field at Wainfleet. Rest of team (until disturbed by Terrington) tried to have a snooze. After net setting, a lazy afternoon which involved some of team watching a local cricket match in the sunshine. Decided as we didn’t have any other options for this evening that we may as well man this morning’s net set on the off chance we might catch some golden plover. Neither licencee overly optimistic and an unseemly tussle about who wouldn’t go in the hide followed! 

PM Reccee: SGD walked the seawall between Wrangle and the Horseshoe looking for potential new mist net sites and cannon netting options on the saltmarsh. A higher area of saltmarsh was identified c.half a mile south of the Horseshoe, with potential mist netting pool. Also possible causewayto the north and a “pool area” at the marsh edge.. Additionally possible evening cannon netting pools between the two.

In position well on time with basecamp at the pumping station and two vehicles, one at each landward corner of the field. First gulls started arriving, typically scattering all over the field and beginning to feed. The first golden plover formed a nice nucleus north of the nets. More golden plover arrived with large gulls and landed south of the nets. Something spooked the northern flock which flipped south. Nearest bird c80 yards so decided to vehicle twinkle. Good movement of bird brought tantalising numbers within 40 yards. Eventually got GA to drop out of the far side of the vehicle and lie on the field. This was a good move as the birds responded well in failing light by walking towards the catching area but then it proved to be incredibly stressful for the hide party as it dawned on us that we couldn’t fire until GA was safe. The last transmission GA heard before his radio went dead was “please crawl off the field” at which time c10 birds were catchable in the far net with loads in a line in front. Unable to see GA we had to wait until the vehicles could confirm that he had got into the ditch by which time light was fading rapidly and nerves in the hide were very frayed. However, whilst waiting lots more birds had walked into the catching area so when able, took catch without further delay. Efficiently covered and extracted birds to cages on the headland. All kit collected and started to deal with odds and sods whilst waiting for SGD, who’d thought the first call to inform him that we’d caught c50 goldies was a wind up (as if we’d do a thing like that!!), to arrive with lights.

Sunday 10th September

AM Reccee: RDF found 550 curlew in 2 fields with 300 at the northern end of Wainfleet and c250 by the control tower. 
SLD Horseshoe area At 06.40 the first curlew came in and landed on the outer cultivated field then more birds arrived with approximately 2:1 split between the outer field and the inner ridges. Had 1-2,000 mixed curlew and barwit. At top of tide tried twinkling flock of curlew, barwit, oystercatchers and grey plover off the ridges onto the outer field very successfully. c400 redshank on two patches of raised marsh/causeways at the top of tide by the Horseshoe area. 
Wrangle area – watching a very high tide was a huge spectator sport and there were people everywhere. No birds anywhere in sight except for a few goldies happily on the disced cabbages where we’d caught yesterday.

Up at 05:15 and in position by 06:15. First curlew landed within 5 minutes close to the hide and the later landings were landward of the hide and nets. Barwit then landed happily in net Zero leading to a “catch” of 150-200. Birds, mostly curlew, were also landing happily in the neighbouring stubble. With twinkling, birds began moving gently to start and then everything lifted to the far side of the field. DB did some good twinkling of these and the front of the flock landed in the catching area briefly but with a good catch behind the nets. Later twinkling was not really very successful, birds just headed off. Clearly we were in the right field and right sort of area but as there was no wind when setting decoys it was very difficult to orientate these and birds were landing at about 90 degrees to these which didn’t really help. 6/10 for effort.

SLD zoomed around to Holbeach to meet up with other team and get 12’ poles and 2 shelf nets for a mist net attempt at a new site identified by SGD on previous evening.

PM   Set two lines of two on the outer field at the Horseshoe, one for the curlew/barwit flock and one for the oystercatcher flock.  After setting, SGD, SLD, RAR and RCT walked the marsh over an area c.half a mile south of the Horseshoe, to look at the site where SLD had seen redshank that morning and check out the potential mist-net site that SGD had seen the previous evening. Decided that we should set two separate lots of nets – 5 x 2shelf nets way out on the marsh and some French nets closer in. SGD and KR took out tape lure whilst rest of team set up basecamp. After first extraction round, creek near further nets filling up and not easily passable. Left SLD and RAR out there whilst rest of team returned to basecamp. Checked nets at 21:40 – water overtopping waders. Started to take down nets at c22:00. Returned to basecamp to finish dealing with all birds and then home to hall to go to bed.

Monday 11th September

AM Reccee: RCT from Friskney to Wainfleet.
At Friskney, barwit looked at the fields but didn’t commit and some flew away north ? to Horseshoe area. A flock of c200 goldies on the seawall and 200 on the field we caught goldies on with several 1000s of starlings. A nearby plough had 3-400 curlew whilst there were 600 goldies on the cabbage field.
Wainfleet: Cultivated field had 3000 barwit and curlew on with some more curlew on the stubble field immediately north.

Up at 05:30 to be in position by 06:45. Frustrating morning! Jackdaws and crows (and apparently one rook!) were harassing the decoys and playing with the wader flock. Initially curlew landed in the northern inland end of the field. It was then a long wait until other birds arrived. More corvid disturbance made the barwits very twitchy. c30 oystercatchers landed in with the decoys set c30 yards outside the catching area. The flock had grown to c700 curlew, 3000 barwit and 100 oystercatchers. Twinkling on the adjacent stubble field lost birds to the inland ridged field. Twinkled birds off the inland ridged field and gained birds in with the main curlew flock which were significantly landward of their catching area and gained oystercatchers and lapwing in with the oystercatcher decoys. Further twinkling on the stubble didn’t cause birds to walk towards either catching area, they either stayed put or left the area entirely. Well after tide, the birds eventually all headed back to the marsh.

PM During afternoon, set a clap net 4 on cultivated field at Wainfleet for barwit and curlew. Mist netting at Wainfleet. Set French nets in the usual places (although not setting all nets and in a slightly different configuration to previous years). Some problems with getting pegs to stick in the sandy sediment meant that the first line fell over whilst setting the next. This needs to be remembered for future years – longer pegs hammered in further! Set by 19:00 and then food at basecamp on grass headland behind seawall. Tape lure out at 20:20, lots of birds audible out towards islands. After main extraction round, SGD and SLD went out across marsh looking to twinkle birds around to nets. The shorter of the two ended up slightly wet having heard “avoid the middle of the creek” as “use the middle of the creek”. Large flock of birds assumed to be out on northern end of hide island. Twinkled by using headtorch. Back to nets to discover why one of the tape lure systems wasn’t working and extract last birds. Called for team to come out to help with take down whilst SGD and RT dealt with remaining birds and packed up basecamp. Back to hall and quickly to bed.

Tuesday 14th September

AM Up at 06:15. Manned nets on cultivated field at Wainfleet. Curlew arrived in the wrong place and didn’t respond to the decoys. Some birds landed on the ridge beyond the catching area whilst others went into the adjacent stubble field. Tried a vehicle twinkle on the stubble field which shifted part of the flock initially and then all birds. These landed on the ridge beyond the catching area with c200 curlew and 600 barwit. Many of these began walking with further vehicle twinkling from the adjacent stubble field but various machinery movements and loud radio caused lots of unease amongst the birds. Many left the area to location unknown. At most we had 3 curlew catchable. RDF went to Wainfleet to see if he could find birds and send them back – only found 2 curlew in total. By this stage the 3 curlew had also left and one remaining grey plover was adjudged to be beyond the catching area, so decided not to fire on it.  Packed up, properly loading trailer for return journey to the main base and then back to hall for breakfast and discussion of plans for mist netting that evening and potential cannon netting on Wednesday morning. As there were no obvious options for the tide on Wednesday morning seriously began considering attempting a starling catch. Saved from that ludicrous idea when Terrington called asking for our help with a good dunlin option on a pool on Terrington marsh

PM Departed hall at 17:15 to set 8 french nets on Leverton marsh in traditional place and 5 x double shelves on new pools to north discovered by SGD on Saturday pm reccee. Food on seawall after setting mist nets. Back to hall for quick beer before bed.

Wednesday 13th September

Up at 06:45 to pack up and depart hall to head around to Terrington to assist with dunlin catch. Slightly late leaving and slow journey meant some of team arrived just in time to get out on the marsh. For account of catch see Norfolk team's trip report.