Wash Wader Ringing Group

Friday 7th March

KS did recce on morning tide in windy conditions.Results were:-
Snettisham North; 50 Oystercatcher in the usual place plus 20 Sanderling with them.
Heacham South; Nothing
Heacham Far North; No Sanderling. Just 10 Oystercatcher.
KS also reported that beach recharge work was going on and a bulldozer started work soon after high tide.

A further recce was done by PLI on the afternoon tide, finding:-
Heacham South; On the mudflats as the tide rose large numbers of waders, primarily Oystercatchers and Bar-tailed Godwits assembled. As the tide pushed them near the shore many birds peeled off south leaving primarily Oystercatchers. Just as the tide reached a critical point where the mudflats would become covered and the birds walk on to the shingle beach, walkers appeared from both ends of the beach. However, about 200 Oystercatchers still chose to come on to the beach. Both walkers then did a detour round the birds which stayed put.
Snettisham North; No birds present immediately after the mudflat covered.

On the basis of the recces, set three narrow full size nets on Snettisham North, setting being complete and back at base about 23:00.

Saturday 8th March

Up 04:45. Dry but windy. Team in position by 06:00, SD observing from the breakwater with DW watching from the other end. Initial observation noted about 200 Oystercatchers probably partly in front of one net but before a detailed check could be made of what was where and how close the tide was to the nets many of these birds took off. This left 50 Oystercatchers just SD’s side of the nets. An attempt to twinkle these failed, the birds heading south.  Then became aware of a substantial flock roosting on the breakwater. Decoys were set before trying to twinkle these. This flock, which also contained some Knot, split with birds going both north and south.  Just a small number chose to land with the decoys but with no other birds about the net was fired.

Although a small catch it give some of the team members ringing ticks!

Waited to recce what would come in to the falling tide site. 25 Oystercatchers and a few Knot were present just as the feeding area started to become uncovered.

With the Group due to hold its AGM at some point during the weekend, decide there was time to do so between breakfast and going out to set for the evening tide. This was accomplished and still time for a rest before departing to set at 14:00.

Due to difficulties in transporting gear to the north end of the Snettisham Coastal Park, just one net set with decoys to encourage the birds to come ashore at the right place. Setting completed in good time and most of the team in the dunes behind with PLI and RD observing. The birds behaved much as the previous day although some of the Bar-tailed Godwit came closer in and ultimately some came ashore. When the tide covered the mudflats about 200 Oystercatchers were on the beach and about 50 Bar-tailed Godwit. Two flocks formed, the larger down from the decoys but with mainly Oystercatchers and a smaller flock, only a net length or so along the beach, with most of the Bar-tailed Godwit.

Initially few birds has come far enough up the beach to be inside the catching marker pegs so had to wait for the water to push them closer. After a couple of surges up the beach decided to take what was present as, with a strong swell in the strong wind along the beach,, did not want the net to go far in to the water.

Just managed to deal with the catch before the light failed.

Back to base for pork stew prepared earlier in the day by MW and DW. This was followed by a hot cross bun pudding following a Jamie Oliver recipe seen by them in an advert for Sainsbury’s on TV on Thursday evening! Bed about 22:00.

Sunday 9th March

Up 05:00. A recce on Saturday by MW, DW and SB had found a compact flock of 40-50 Turnstone on Heacham Far North so the aim was to catch these. A single small mesh net was to be set but even before it had been set at its first place on the beach the tide was getting too close. The net was lifted further back and setting completed. RW and SB observed from along the sea wall with RD behind the net and tried twinkling but it soon became apparent the tide was still rapidly advancing so the net was moved back yet again. Never more than about 30 birds of mixed species present and took no notice of decoys in our net. When on the falling tide shingle ridges appeared out of reach of the net decided to give up. At this point a flock of a dozen Turnstone appeared and, remembering Saturday’s recce had been well after high tide, it was felt the numbers may increase so the net was moved down the beach again to cover the shingle ridge. No more Turnstone arrived and those that were present did not want to land below the net until the tide edge was well out of the net’s reach.

Gave up and moved to the Snettisham falling tide site. Unfortunately the stone which marked where the net should be set had been moved by the tide but assumed this would not be too far along the beach. After waiting for the tide to drop to the desired level a single narrow full net was deployed. This was rather lower down the beach than has traditionally been the case at this site since the topography has changed and the first feeding area to expose if close in to shore. As the tide fell off it became apparent that the stone had moved more than thought and only a small portion of the area the birds were expected to go was covered. A few Oystercatchers and 25 Knot did come to the site before the rest of the mussel bed was uncovered but were not in the area covered by our net.

Back to base for breakfast and departure mid-day.