Wash Wader Ringing Group

Team members travelling from the Midlands were pleased to find the Thorney by-pass is now open!

Saturday 31st December

No recce due to time of tide. PI called at Port Sutton Bridge on his way to base to check location of ships and cargo and to see how wet the surface was after recent snow and rain. SGD and RT collected the sandbags needed to catch at the Port from the Wolferton store and then picked up MH and IA from King's Lynn Station. Team assembled at Base from mid-day. Although breezy, the wind was predicted to reduce so sorted out nets for the evening and cannon nets for the morning. In the latter case, since the Port was not working either day, it was decided to postpone going there until Monday morning to give the dock surface more time to dry. Mist net sets on Terrington salt marsh in two places. There was rather more water in the pool to the east of the white barn than a month ago but still insufficient to set in the traditional 'E' formation of nets. There is no alphabetical equivalent to describe the layout used, something like a 'Y' with an additional tail! With a lowish tide the plan was to put further nets on the far pool out from the white barn. This proved to be dry so only two nets set here and two sets of two nets set further inland where there was standing water. Part of the team returned to Base to put supper in the oven and collect tape lures. The latter went out just as it was getting fully dark at 17:00 but, as three lines of nets had been set, SGD's small tape recorder was enlisted for the two nets on the far pool from the White Barn. Apart from the lures it seemed very quiet which is reflected in the low total for the evening. The tide did make, coming well in from the furthest out nets from the white barn and caused SD to call for reinforcements when she could not find these nets, the tape being only just audible in what appeared to well out into the Wash, and because her companions were only wearing wellingtons.

The Oystercatchers were all caught in the 'E' pool nets on the taking down round. Being New Year's Eve, the relatively early tide was convenient as it meant that eating after catching had finished was not too late. Tables set so the team could eat the beef stew left to cook whilst we were out on the saltmarsh. This was followed by cherry pie and cream. Whilst waiting for midnight, two of the jigsaws were brought out, one being completed, the other having to wait for completion the next day. Bed soon after midnight.

Sunday 1st January

Up 06:30. Discovered the lights were not working on the trailer loaded yesterday so quick switch of the contents to another trailer before setting off to the Snettisham falling tide site. Bit late arriving but still well in time as the tide had a long way to run off before setting would be possible. On arrival about 300 Oystercatchers on the Snettisham beach and a further 400 or so on the concrete sea defence by the public hide, together with about 100 Knot. Our presence disturbed many of these which joined the flock on Snettisham North. When the tide had receded to the correct height, two narrow full nets set in front of the public hide, the nets having been laid out higher up whilst the team was waiting. As the tide had been falling the Oystercatchers on South beach had gradually been departing so that only 200 remained by the time the net was set. There was, however, a further 200 on Heacham South. Shortly after the setting team had vacated the beach, Oystercatchers landed with the decoys and gradually built to 80 present with 50 catchable after a twinkle of the Heacham birds, the rest of these going to Snettisham South. Considering a twinkle of the Snettisham flock to increase the potential catch when a grockle appeared on the sea wall. As it was going to be difficult to stop them decided to take what was present. Countdown given but nothing happened and then the grockle did put up half the birds on the beach.. Managed to stop the grockle before the rest left so SD twinkled the Snettisham flock. Some did land with the flock near the nets but did not increase the number catchable whilst the rest landed the Heacham side of the nets. GC now asked to twinkle towards the net from the Heacham side but as he did so the first bit of the mussel bed became exposed and birds starting to land there. Thinking the opportunity to catch had probably gone, the appearance of a small knot flock some of which landed on the beach in front of the net came as a surprise and the command to fire was promptly given. Unfortunately, in moving the net down the beach when setting, a jump rope had been looped round the net so it went out very poorly catching just two. Had it fired properly, although the birds were at the outer edge of the catching area, it could have been a catch of up to 50 Knot.

Incidentally, had the net fired when the Oystercatchers were in front of it earlier, the catch would have been much less than the expected 50 as the same net, with the incorrectly set jump rope, was expected to catch the majority of them.

Back to base for breakfast and thought about what to do on evening tide. As Terrington mist netting had been relatively unsuccessful and very few birds were heard around the marsh that was ruled out as was rising tide cannon netting of Oystercatchers on Heacham South (no recce and too many people on beach on New Year's day). Wolferton would have to be the bay rather than the pool due to tide heights and we should give advance warning of our presence. The Leverton saltmarsh needed a lower tide so that left Wainfleet where the predicted tide height was ideal but a long way away! Decided we could do Wainfleet so equipment sorted for this into SGD's truck and that for the morning in to the trailer with the working lights!

Three vehicles taken round to Wainfleet, GC's stopping off en route to collect food to eat between setting and catching. The remainder of the team went straight to Wainfleet and set 13 nets in lines of 7, 3, 2, and 2 nets.

After eating the initial net round only produced single figure numbers of birds. By high tide the number caught was still small and teams were organised to take nets down. Initially this round seemed as unproductive as the rest but after initially checking all nets a Knot flock passed by and 21 further Knot were caught, making the evening's catch much more respectable.

Return to base by about 22:30, giving time for a bit of relaxation before bed.

Monday 2nd January

Up 05:00 to get to port by 06:00. First problem, the security guard does not know we are coming and proceeds to ring various port officials - at 6 a.m. - to check it is O.K.. It is, but reveals problem number two, in that two ships are about to come in and dock in the area we need to use! Nothing for it but to get on with it and hope the Turnstone are early and the ships late. The only practical netting site is on berth 4 (furthest seaward) and to use bait to bring birds in. Also due to wet in crane rails on dock sill the net has to be set well back from the edge. Net set in usual way, using sandbags to weigh down cannons and pegs, by 06:45. Team dispersed to various points to await arrival of Turnstone and dissuade them from feeding anywhere than in the catching area. A year ago the catch was taken at 07:25, so getting worried when no Turnstone had arrived by that time. However soon after PI got out of his car to look down the opposite bank of the river where they gather before coming to the port, a flock land at his feet. Trying to stop these birds feeding in this part of the port proved too much for three people so two reinforcements were enlisted. Eventually the odd bird got the message and tried the far end of the port, this coinciding with the arrival of one of the men phoned by security at 6 a.m. who had arrived to supervise the berthing of the two ships. A look down the river confirmed there were two ships heading our way. Ship number one duly arrived and was moored in berth three which did not affect our operations apart from affecting GC's ability to check the road opposite for safety (i.e. that there would be no passing vehicle when we fired). Fortunately the Turnstone had now got the message that they would not be hassled if they went to berth four where the net was but they had not found the bait. GC, as the closest person to them, was asked to put some pressure on to push the birds towards the bait. By now ship number two was almost at the port and the shore based crew advancing towards the berth to receive it. All but about 15 of the Turnstone present chose to realise what the bait was and tucked in so JK fired immediately. This gave one hell of a bang but at least we had a catch before the ship berthed immediately in front of the catching area. Catch extracted and taken to other side of port to process, all birds being colour ringed for JS's project.

Back to base, breakfast and departure mid-day.