Wash Wader Ringing Group

This is the report for the Lincolnshire side of the Wash.

With the Gibraltar Point ringing course running during the first part of Wash Week, arrangements had been made for WWRG team members to have accommodation at the Observatory and for course members to join in with our catching operations.

Also, a fortnight earlier JK, AK and NAC had recced to look for potential catching options if, as expected, few birds came over the sea wall on to fields.

Sunday 29th August

SGD and MS travelled round to Gib ready to recce on Monday morning. Had a thorough examination of potential catching sites on saltmarsh at Leverton before watching the waders using this area over the high tide period. (Thunderstorm passed over before leaving the vehicle to watch).

Monday 30th August

SGD recced the southern portion of the shore from North Sea Camp to Sailor's Home. Similar to Sun pm: c1000 dunlin & 200 grey plover gathered off right angle at Wrangle. 4/5000 godwit gathering on mud in centre of bay, before forming roosts well back from the tide edge in suitable parts of the marsh for catching - subject to strimming. At top of tide most roosted on brassica field (plants too large to contemplate asking for permission). c. 700 mainly redshank roosting in scattered groups on seawall to N of southern lookout. Greatest concentration about 1/3 way along. This site is suitable on c 25.3' tide.

MS recced the north section. Several 1000 bar tails using N Wainfleet islands, knot all went to Gib, 10,000 Oyks plastered Southern nearer island. Fields with 3000 Goldies, 200 Curlew and 3000 Bartails were found on stubble halfway between control towers.

Set a clap net pair on a Wainfleet stubble field ready for the morning with the assistance of Gib point course members.

Joined by JS, FL, SB, GC, KA, N plus 8 from Gib Pt for and evening catch on the northern Wainfleet island. Two narrow half nets set at the very north of the island.1000 Bar tailed Godwit landed on another island to the north (beyond main creek) but 40 Oystercatchers landed in net one so fired. Tide was washing through catching area (made same height as am at Wainfleet). One cannon failed, probably due to water shorting the dropper. 10,000+ oyks on long S island. Walk back was straightforward using GPS set up on previous occasion, and a dozen poles way marking.

Tuesday 31st August

Up 4.30, MS & SGD arrived field 5.15. MS strimmed catching area, while SGD sorted hides, phones and decoys. In position c 6.00, quickly followed by several curlew - base camp never had a chance to establish where the decoys were beforehand. Curlew landed with decoys, but also formed two other nuclei on the field. When the godwit arrived, they chose to join one of these groups. At this stage had c100 curlew & 30 barwit in area, but many in safety area. Jiggling started to work, but birds disturbed by Merlin. Extensive twinkling ensued with SGD's truck. Godwit landed on all four edges of catching area during this time, but studiously avoided strimmed area. About ¾ hour after tide as majority had left field, a few landed in and catch taken.

MS recced S Lincs . Only 150 birds on seawallat S Lookout.
300 curlew on stubble at Butterwick outer reclaim. Several thousand barwits on different brassica field by Leverton - still unsuitable. Some godwit on plough just N of control tower - due to twinkling.
Forgot to recce North end of Wainfleet..

Set on a stubble at Leverton ready for Wednesday morning. Team had breakfast in Skegness then joined MS & JS to set. GC, KA & N returned with strimmer to Terrington

Tuesday evening saw a narrow half net being set on a saltmarsh pool near the northern pumping station at Leverton. MS and SB in a forward position with SGD in the hide. By this stage in series birds knew this area would be flooded so very few about. Tide came in very quickly so fired on 9. Birds taken to pumping station to process, giving lots of training to the Gib point participants. On departure, MS and JS had problem with their Land Rover and it was driven to the farm's yard in second gear where a failed clutch slave cylinder was diagnosed. Eventually found food in Skegness having tried all the pubs along the way.

Wednesday 1st September

Up 04:30 (again!). Due to clutch problems on landrover only one vehicle available to team. In position by 6.00. First birds landed with decoys, steadily building to 300 Curlew arrived and about 120 of these in the catching area. About to fire when 3 entered safety. Jiggling tried but ineffective so SGD tried to move birds from safety by driving. Birds walked across the area into the other safety area. JS successfully jiggled but in the process all birds lifted. After a further lift 80 judged to be in the area and all safe so fired.

After catch dealt with, MS and SGD went to get parts to repair Land Rover. MS and JS then repaired Land Rover whilst SGD and other remaining team members returned to Gib to collect belongings from there. All then rejoined the team at the main base, via the Holbeach net setting team in MS and JS's case.

Thursday 2nd September.

Team of seven came over from Terrington to the south Lincolnshire saltmarsh to experiment mist netting on a site discovered during the Lincolnshire recce a fortnight ago and where loads of waders have been seen during the week. Two lines of nets set. One line immediately off the point of the seawall was of 4 single shelf nets whilst seven two panels were set on some pools on the saltmarsh. Birds responded almost instantaneously to the tape lure put out at 20:30. Majority of birds caught in the first of three net rounds.

All birds processed and back to base in Terrington by c1.45, just before the Terrington team returned to base!

Friday 3rdSeptember

Team of eight came round from Terrington and were joined by PB to mist net the Wainfleet site where previously very successful catches of Knot have been made. Whilst the majority of the team set a series of mist nets over a run of pools in the midst of the Salicornia marsh, SD and SGD walked out to the Wainfleet Long Island where they tried to make sure that the tide would cover the mudflats and worked out exactly where to set the cannon net the following morning. After net setting, off the marsh to the seawall for supper and to pitch tents on the side of a field, as the Gib Point course had now finished and no accommodation was available to us there. This time the low tide and appearance of bright moon before high tide meant catching was less successful and the catch was:-

Hot drinks around the generator (not quite the same as a camp fire!) before bed.

Saturday 4th September

Up 05.00 for breakfast by the seawall. Team increased to 11 by the addition at 05.30 of JK and AK. Walked out across the marsh by first light onto Wainfleet Island where quickly set one net and got into position. Base camp under tarpaulin were treated to a display of thousands and thousands of knot and bar-tailed godwit overhead and, as the tide surrounded the island, seals looking to haul out puzzled at the odd 'seals' already on the island. A few hundred oystercatchers began pre-roosting at the edge of the mudflats as tide began to cover. c5000 bar-tailed godwit formed a roost behind the hide and, as tide covered that area went into the mist net pools. It became clear that the tide would come high enough and it began to push birds up onto the island below the net however, the flock had only grown to c1000 birds as those roosting on the Friskney island had clearly not yet been pushed off. Several surges of birds up the beach put c150 catchable. Hide party briefly distracted by a kingfisher landing less than 2 yards from the hide - oh for a camera! Managed to enjoy a quick view before refocusing on the task in hand. Another surge up the beach resulted in c250 catchable but one bird landed behind the net and then strolled back down the beach. Decided not to wait hoping for more birds but to take the catch before more birds got too close to the net.

All birds processed during fine sunny weather before team walked off the marsh. MS and JS the first back to the seawall got the "Field kitchen" (back of the landrover) in action. Good breakfast and good team spirit rounded off hard but very worthwhile catching attempt. Broke camp and some headed straight home from here whilst others returned to base to finish sorting equipment.