Friday 27th February
Recces were done by PLI (Snettisham) and SD (Heacham)
| Snettisham North | At 06:30 large flock of both Oystercatchers and grey waders with birds both on the beach and in the air, probably disturbed by dog walker. About 2000 Oystercatchers and a similar number of the grey waders departed south leaving 6-700 Oystercatchers in three flocks and a maximum of 200 Dunlin. Apart from 100 Oystercatchers and the dunlin these had gone south by 07:30 |
| Snettisham RSPB Pits | Although not a catching option PLI walked to the pits, finding 2000 Knot, lots of Oystercatchers and 25 Avocet as the waders present. |
| Heacham South | Just 20 Oystercatchers |
| Heacham Far North | 60 Sanderling, 20 Turnstone, 20 Ringed Plover and 2 Grey Plover at high tide. |
The team assembled during the evening with most people arriving in time for food at 19:00. As the plan was to set two small mesh 4 cannon nets well below the predicted high mark departure for setting was delayed to give the evening’s high tide time to run off. (For those not familiar with the small mesh nets the Group now uses in certain circumstances, they hardly entangle the birds and allow very rapid extraction. This in turn enables the nets to be set in situations where conventional mesh size nets cannot be used. As waders tend to be on the Snettisham beach only at dawn, and with the time of high tide on Saturday well after dawn, it is advantageous to set below the predicted high tide which can be safely done when one can extract birds very rapidly). On arrival at the access gate to the Snettisham beach found that the lock and chain had been changed and consequently the Group’s key would not fit. PLI and NAC paid the farmer whose gate it is a visit only to find he also did not know of the change and consequently was not best pleased! Fortunately an alternative access route was agreed for the car with the equipment, the rest of the team walking from the public car park. With this delayed start to setting it was nearly midnight by the time the team was back at base.
Saturday 28th February
Up 04:45. PLI and RdF in position in hide by 06:15. The tide had not quite covered the mudflat at this stage and lots of Oystercatchers and other waders seen to be present. Oystercatchers were the first to come ashore and were in front of the nearer net to the hide or closer. This number grew to about 500. As the tide rose the flock gradually moved towards Snettisham (i.e. away from the hide) and in front of the other net. Improving light enabled the hide to see that there were also some grey waders including Bar-tailed Godwit at the far side of the flock and on the tide edge.
The tide was now getting high enough to push a proportion of the birds within the eight yard markers. Just beginning to think about firing when there was a lift off, primarily of the Bar-tailed Godwit. The birds that stayed looked alert and, with the tide at a height suitable for catching, got on with firing.
| Species | New | Control / Retrap | Totals |
| Oystercatcher | 66 | 37 | 103 |
| Knot | 85 | 10 | 95 |
| Totals | 151 | 47 | 198 |
Of the ringed Knot one had a leg flag indicating it had been ringed at Porsanger Fjord in northern Norway (we have now been told the exact details which are that it was ringed on 19th May 2006 at Igaldas).
After breakfast and sorting out equipment for both the evening mist netting and for the morning there was time for a rest before going to set mist nets on the Terrington saltmarsh. With the pool directly out from the white barn being dry those nets were set on the pool often used for cannon netting to the east. The other nets were set on the usual “E” pool. Tape lures were put out at 18:45 and already the cannon netting pool had caught about 25 birds. The next round produced most of the rest of the birds and the totals for the evening were:-
| Species | New | Control / Retrap | Totals |
| Dunlin | 142 | 5 | 147 |
| Redshank | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Black Tailed Godwit | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Oystercatcher | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Knot | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Curlew | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Bar Tailed Godwit | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Jack Snipe | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Totals | 166 | 5 | 171 |
Back at base by midnight.
Sunday 1st March
Up 06:00. Got to Heacham Far North shortly after 07:00 and two small mesh 4 cannon nets set whilst a flock of Sanderling watched from 50 or so yards away. Minor problems encountered with getting an electrical circuit in both nets and by time this was resolved tide near the eight yard markers. Twinkling quickly organised to bring the Sanderling flock along. They cooperated nicely and on the second push got 80 in front of one net with the rest just out. Wondering whether to settle for this when all lifted and circled round to land in the other net. Quick check on safety as Snow Buntings had been near the net and when given the all clear, fired. With the small mesh net ‘lifting’ the birds from the tide edge and subsequent extraction was very easy.
| Species | New | Control / Retrap | Totals |
| Sanderling | 220 | 101 | 321 |
| Turnstone | 8 | 2 | 10 |
| Ringed Plover | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Snow Bunting | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Totals | 230 | 103 | 333 |
Several of the Sanderling retraps were already colour ringed for CK’s project and a further 20 were colour ringed.
Return to base for food before packing up and departure after a very satisfactory weekend with a grand total of 702 birds of 12 species caught, and all birds processed.