Wash Wader Ringing Group

Friday 16th February

SLD did a recce, starting at Heacham.  150 Curlew were noted feeding on field inland.  By 14:20 Oystercatchers were already on the beach in three distinct flocks of 200, 600, and 50, the largest being near the tump.  Disturbance concentrated these on the largest flock.  Approximately 2000 Brent Geese were seen on the grazing marsh behind the seawall.

SLD then went round to Terrington where 2,000 Oystercatchers and 20,000 grey waders, mainly Dunlin, were on the tide edge.  No catching opportunities were identified.

Chinese meal at base for the people arriving Friday.

Saturday 17th February

Up 05:45 to do recces at first light.

• Nene bank (NAC); About 80 Lapwing on muddy area next to edge of Nene, mainly on rocks.  Large numbers of Brent Goose droppings in area.  Something over 300 Curlew flying inland up the Nene, presumably to feed on fields.
• Terrington, Admirals Farm (LBM);  Large nos. grey waders on tide edge but nothing on the saltmarsh.  Also 2,000 Oyks.  Flocks of 70 and 20 Twite.
• Snettisham N (PLI); On arrival 200 Oystercatchers.  Dog-walker walked along sea defence and put up flock of Knot.  About 1,000 of these Knot joined the Oystercatchers initially but most soon left towards Snettisham, leaving about 200.
• Heacham S. (SLD); About 200 Oystercatchers near the tump, joined by a further 600 presumably when disturbed by the dog walker on the sea defence.  About 50 Lapwing joined the Oystercatchers briefly.  No sign of Curlew on fields.
• Heacham N. (RAR); About 100 Oystercatchers in a tight flock and later joined by a further 50.  About 35 Knot on inland side of the Oystercatchers and 50-60 Sanderling on the seaward side, all settled.  Joined by 50 Lapwing.  Also scattered Ringed Plover and Turnstone.

Equipment sorted out for the rising tide site at Heacham before the Group’s AGM.

Soup lunch followed by departure to Heacham to set nets.  Three nets set well ahead of the tide getting anywhere close.  The Oystercatchers behaved well and assembled on the mudflats out from the nets and then walked up to join the decoys.  NAC and SLD, observing from either end, discussed the numbers catchable and then decided to fire two nets before the tide got too close.  These caught well and were lifted well up the beach to allow time for extraction

Two of the Oystercatchers captured and ringed are pictured here. Although both exhibit adult plumage characteristics, it can be seen on the bird shown top left that the eye and bill colour have not reached full maturity. This bird was aged as a ‘6’… the age code for a bird hatched 2 years ago or more. The other bird has the full rich red eye colour and fully orange bill that only come with age, and this bird was aged as an ‘8’… a bird hatched 3 years ago or more.

 

 

 

 

 

These two birds also illustrate another feature found within Oystercatcher populations. Evidence of preferred feeding method can be seen. When feeding on cockles and mussels some Oystercatchers hammer at the shells to get at the contents, whilst others prefer to prize open their prey. The result is that the ‘hammerers’ develop blunted bills (bottom right), whilst the ‘prizers’ retain a sharp point to their bill (top left).

Having dealt with this catch it was after high tide and so possible to set for the morning. The first problem was to get the equipment to the site and to get the trailer up a tricky bit of sea wall it was necessary to unload it. A flat tyre on trailer probably contributed to the difficulty in getting it up the sea wall. Having overcome this difficulty the marked net set on Snettisham was located with some difficulty. This was the point at which it was realised that SLD and JAC, who had gone off via Tesco to sort out an evening meal, had the cartridges necessary to set. SLD left JAC shopping at Tesco to deliver these. Just two nets set and tested with a faulty circuit tester, the only one available. Back to base for Tuna Pasta meal.

Sunday 18th February

Up 05:00.  In position just after first light, with PLI and JAC at the firing position.  The Oystercatchers were on the beach and as it started to get light it was apparent most of these were just beyond the nets.  Base camp then reported that only one net circuit tested but with birds present there was nothing that could be done.  As the light level slowly increased it was realised that the grey pebbles in with the Oystercatcher flock and beyond them, were grey waders.   RR asked to twinkle the concrete sea defence where many birds had been the previous day.   This disturbed many Oystercatchers and Knot but these did not come to the flock near the catching area.  With the tide now turned and with the previous evening’s success with Oystercatchers decided to try to move some grey waders in front of the net.  To this end NAC went from base camp to twinkle.  With a closer view he reported the grey waders on the ground with the Oystercatchers were Dunlin rather than Knot.  These soon objected to the presence of a person on the beach and left.  With no prospect of a grey wader catch the number of Oystercatchers in the area were re-assessed and decided there were sufficient.  Hence net fired.

The Lone Godwit

Once this catch had been dealt with returned to base and departed early afternoon.