Friday 16th

Having arrived the evening before PLI got up at 04:30 to recce. Unfortunately too cloudy to see the lunar eclipse which should have been total at that time.

Heacham South (05:30; over 1½ hours before high tide); 300 Oystercatchers, fairly well spread with some well up the beach.
Terrington East (06:30 - 0715); Even by high tide much of saltmarsh was still exposed.
To west, on creek edges near the strimmed site, 150 Grey Plover and many hundred Dunlin.
A small number of Curlew (and the only ones seen) looked at the field used last month but did not stop.
To east, at 06:30 flock of birds well towards King's Lynn beyond the mist netting pool. On closer examination later ca. 70 Dunlin on the mist net pool with 30 Shelduck but on the saltmarsh edge and a creek edge 1000 Grey Plover and 2-3000 Dunlin.
Also several hundred Brent Geese in various places.

The predicted rain started just as the recce finished and persisted all day.

The location of the Grey Plover and Dunlin on the saltmarsh did not give any obvious place to set and in any case with a tide expected to flood the saltmarsh in the evening (Thursday evening's did not) the situation would change. Hence decided to try for the Heacham Oystercatchers in the morning, requiring nets to be set Friday evening.

Further recce on the evening tide, done by driving the car on to the sea wall at Terrington and observing from there.

Team met up at Heacham South from 20:30 and set three narrow full size nets. 100 Oystercatchers and 150 Sanderling present on arrival and just moved a short distance away. More or less dry for setting.

Many of those caught were immature as to be expected at this time of year.

Although dry for dealing with the catch, passed through a heavy downpour on return to base for breakfast.

Limited options available discussed over breakfast. Decided to use Terrington (E) saltmarsh for the evening tide so went to look for possible sites before determining equipment. After some deliberation, decided to set two small size nets (the small mesh net and a narrow half net) to the right of the mist net pool where the main concentration of Grey Plover and Dunlin had been seen. This was an area used for catching attempts last summer as evidenced by two cannon holes in the area chosen to set!

Set before tea and then after the meal went to man the nets. PLI observed from his car parked on the sea wall which gave an excellent view and protection from the anticipated rain and strong wind. Everyone else was under a tarpaulin on the saltmarsh much nearer the nets. As soon as the tide reached the edge of the saltmarsh birds took an interest in forming a roost away from the tide edge. Plastic Grey Plover decoys had been used in both catching areas and early Dunlin flocks were attracted by them but only odd ones landed. A large flock formed further to the right by a pool and in an area with 100+ Shelduck roosting. Initially this was all Dunlin but gradually Grey Plover joined. After a number of lifts due to disturbance by a Marsh Harrier and bangs from a crop scarer the birds changed allegiance with several hundred using the mist net pool and the majority being seaward of our nets. As the tide approached this flock was pushed towards the catching areas and the odd one was in the catching area. With it getting close to high tide and the nets not yet flooded, although it was obviously going to be a close run thing whether they would stay dry, PLI decided to delay abandoning and picking up the nets. However, inevitably, the tide won, and by the time the team was at the nets to pick up the decoys were submerged.

Despite the forecast it was still dry and clear. With the tide cutting the mist net pool still formed a distinct pool by high tide although our disturbance in retrieving the nets had inevitably caused the birds to leave.