PLI spent Thursday night at the base to do the recces and awoke on Friday morning to strong onshore winds (i.e. W or SW) force 5/6. PLI arrived at Snettisham North soon after light. 50 Oystercatchers were present in the traditional place well towards hide. There was also 12 Grey Plover just by road up onto the sea wall. Between these two flocks there was third flock of approximately 500 grey waders (several Grey Plover, 20 Oystercatchers and mainly Dunlin) spread along about 100 yards of beach. Heacham South had a number of flocks of Oystercatchers, 3 main ones, with the largest probably 250, between the bungalows and the Tump. There is a lot of tide wrack high up on beach and the biggest flock and furthest south flock was just before this ended. Heacham Far North was visited ¾ hour after tide. No birds here; however at high tide there would have been little beach.

Returned to Snettisham North. The Oystercatchers were still present and the grey waders were reduced in number but several hundred still there. One flock ca.200 still on tide wrack was Grey Plover and Dunlin but feeding in the waves were ca. 150 Sanderling so the suspicion is that the roosting flock seen earlier was actually a mix of Sanderling and Dunlin. PLI then marked the position of 3-4 nets to be set for Saturday morning. No recce was done of Terrington Marsh due to a lack of time and people.

Friday evening

The majority of the team arrived at the base in ones and two's but most people were present and ready to go by 1900. PLI, not being able to stay for the weekend, had packed all the necessary equipment for setting on Snettisham North before leaving so there was one thing missing - a cannon net license holder! NAC arrived shortly before 2000 and the team were then able to set. PLI's markers were found and, after debating what nets to set and how high up the beach to set because the evenings tide had come higher than expected, the team started setting 4 small mesh nets and a narrow full net. What should have been a straight forward set became a nightmare as 3 of the small mesh nets had not been cleaned of saltmarsh grot after the summer trips and it took over and hour to de-grot and furl the nets. We then had a problem with circuit testing one net. Finished setting and left the beach after midnight, team all in bed by 0100.

Saturday 11th

Up at 0515 and in position at 0615. NAC found another 'oil slick' of c.2-3000 Oystercatchers on the beach in the moonlight. Most of these left as soon as it started to get light and went to the pits. It did not appear that they were disturbed and probably went to the pits as soon as it was light enough for them to see in the enclosed pits. This left c. 200 Oystercatchers and an unknown number of grey waders on the beach with birds directly down from the nets and spread out towards the hide. Nearer high tide but with the tide still too far away 1,500-2,000 Grey Plovers and Dunlin arrived with 3-400 down from the nets so it was all looking extremely promising. Next thing we knew NAC was on the radio shouting there is someone on the beach. JK ran out to intercept the dog walker but it was too late and most of the birds had left. Decoys were then employed in the catching area and JK was sent to twinkle the remaining birds but this was unsuccessful. Due to the small team size we were only able to have one person (MPC) as long stop but they needed to be close enough to get to the catch quickly if we fired and therefore had to stay out of sight of the beach. The dog walker had got past whilst MPC was talking to another person behind the sea wall. We then packed up the kit and most of the team returned to base whilst NAC went to recce Heacham North for Sunday. Rest of the day was spent shopping, cooking, sorting kit for the rest of the weekend and having a sleep. NAC put up a new set of bunk beds for the base.

Saturday pm

Team of 3 went to set mist nets - the usual E shaped set to the right of the barn and 3 single shelf nets on the pools straight out from the barn. The remainder of the team set the cannon nets (3 narrow full nets) for Sunday morning. Supper was done in phases to allow the mist nets to be manned. Moon was up before high tide however despite this NAC and MPC were catching when they went out to put out the tape lures. NAC thinks that the moon was low enough and bright enough to dazzle the birds. A respectable catch of 96 birds. Team in bed by midnight.