Friday 29th October
KS and CK did recce on the morning tide, TT looked at the Terrington area.:-
| Snettisham North | Just a few small flocks but not a catching option |
| Heacham South | 250 Oystercatchers and 50 Bar-tailed Godwit by the tump. |
| Heacham Far North | 850 Sanderling. |
| Terrington | At first light, out from the white barn, there was 100 Curlew, 1000 Dunlin, 150+ Redshank and a few Oystercatchers and Bar-tailed Godwit. Disturbed by a Harrier on the marsh and by high tide birds spread along tide edge and very mobile. In total, estimate of birds present was: 6-7000 Dunlin, 500+ Redshank, 600+ Curlew, 150 Lapwing and 2000 Brent Geese Nothing seen to be using the bund |
On the basis of this recce information, decided the plan would be to catch Oystercatchers on Saturday morning, mist net at Terrington in the evening and then catch Sanderling at Heacham far North on Sunday to complete colour ringing the number of juveniles required for CK's project.
The team assembled at the base early evening onwards and further team members joined at Heacham to set nets. Back at base for briefing and bed about midnight.
Saturday 30th
Up 05:30. All team to Heacham except JS who went to Port Sutton Bridge to see if the Turnstone were using the Port yet. She later reported that, as a fortnight ago, there were no Turnstone present.
At the Heacham net set, PI observed from the north and MS went south. As it became light, a flock of geese could be seen just off-shore and a few of these, Geylags, were on the beach in front of the nets. Possibly because of the presence of the geese, the main Oystercatcher flock was to the south. The geese left for inland as it got lighter so MS twinkled the Oystercatchers but lost most to the south. About 50 did come in front of the nets but MS and PI could not agree whether it was net 3 or 4! Nearer PI were a further 100 Oystercatchers, some Bar-tailed Godwit and Sanderling. Considering whether to twinkle or take what was in the nets when all the birds in front of the catching area left. PI therefore twinkled the flock in front of him. Some left but eventually about 50 walked in front of net 1. Just about to give command to fire when these all left! Large flocks of knot (totalling ca. 7000) had been noted flying past out to sea but had paid no attention to the beach. Now left with a small flock of Sanderling to the south. Before these were twinkled, decoys were put out. MS then moved the birds and after a couple of attempts got most in front of the net with the decoys and fired.
| Species | New | Control / Retrap | Totals |
| Sanderling | 33 | 5 | 38 |
| Turnston | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Dunlin | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Totals | 35 | 5 | 40 |
All but one of the Sanderling were juveniles, thereby giving CK the additional 15 birds to be colour ringed.
Back for breakfast by 11:30.
Having now caught the Sanderling sample that was the expected target for Sunday morning, plans had to be rethought. Still needing a catch of Oystercatchers, it was decided to reset on Heacham South despite the logistics problem of setting in the evening alongside mist netting. With a reasonable sized team it was practical for all to be involved with mist netting until high tide and then leave a team to ring and process the birds and take down the mist nets whilst others went to Heacham to set. During the afternoon, SD took the dogs for a walk to the inner bund to check roosting waders there were not being overlooked. Had a very long walk as gates normally unlocked were found to be locked.
Nets set 15:00 and food about 17:30. Tape lures were put out just under two hours before high tide and this team returned with a Brent Goose and a couple of waders. Almost all the birds were then caught in the next net round, the full moon which had now risen probably enabling birds to see the nets.
| Species | New | Control / Retrap | Totals |
| Knot | 55 | 1 | 56 |
| Dunlin | 34 | 3 | 37 |
| Redshank | 7 | 2 | 9 |
| Grey Plover | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Black-Tailed Godwit | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Turnstone | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Brent Goose | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Totals | 106 | 9 | 115 |
>The Heacham setting team left a little later than planned but managed to set and return to base before the mist netting team had gone to bed. Brief discussion of plans for the morning before bed 00:30.
Sunday 31st
Up 06:00 (still using BST, to avoid confusion, despite rest of country having gone to GMT). JAC and SD observing from south and north respectively. SD got to her observation point to discover it was too late to stop the first dog walker of the day and that he was almost at the catching area with a flock of Oystercatchers several net lengths beyond the nets. These were soon disturbed by the walker and disappeared south. With nothing else on the beach, decoys were put out in the hope of attracting any birds that did come to the beach. Continued observation through the tide but no birds returned although, as yesterday, many thousand knot were seen to fly past. KS and AR looked at Snettisham. 150 Oystercatcher were on the steep beach by the new sea defences at the public hide (and departed south) and there was nothing on Snettisham itself. Before giving up SD and JAC twinkled about 30 Sanderling - mainly unringed so not the same ones as yesterday - but had no success.
Early breakfast and departure from base.