Wash Wader Ringing Group

Wednesday 14th July

Recces on the morning tide by NC (Terringon area) and Pl & JC (Snettisham / Heacham):-

The morning was spent sorting equipment for both teams. Left at 4 p.m. to set, some difficulty being experienced in locating the correct track to the field. The birds had been roosting on the highest point of the field so an unconventional set was made with two nets almost as a clap net pair and a third at 45 degrees to this. Finished just as a few birds came over from the beach.

On the evening tide a further recce of Terrington was done by NC and HW. This located a possible area for a Curlew catch.

Evening meal followed by team briefing.

Thursday 15th July

Up 05:00. Finished setting at Ken Hill, the cables not having been set the previous day due to cattle in the field. A hide manned by NC and JC observed the pair of nets with PI on the sea wall watching the third net and getting an overview of the situation. It was not long before the first Oystercatchers came over the field and whilst some landed with the decoys most continued inland. A few flocks of Curlew also came inland but showed no interest in our field and continued flying inland and south until lost to sight. The next flock of Oystercatchers to arrive circled the field and then came in to the catching area. Initially these were all in the clap net pair but with some in the safety area of one net. Some then spread down wind into the third net but all the birds left before jiggling was considered. After flying round the flock started to land in the catching area, again in the clap net pair but this time without any in safety. Although a target of 200 had originally been set, with the birds looking unhappy in the exposed position in the strong wind and a catch estimate of 150, it was decided to fire.

Whilst dealing with the catch no further flocks came over, vindicating the decision to fire at that time!

Further recces were done on the morning tide:-
Terrington Saltmarsh (HW): Similar to previous day but only 59 Curlew seen. Lots of gulls and one Little Egret.
Snettisham North: 200 Sanderling and 1 Dunlin but very strong long-shore drift.

Weather forecast was for continuing or strengthening wind and showers which, combined with relatively few waders about, made making plans difficult. The best option was to try to catch Curlew on the Terrington saltmarsh if a suitable place could be found. Hence NC and PI went out to the marsh to investigate the possibilities. The result was a suitable area for a clap net pair to be set.

Although had initially thought of setting and manning for both the evening tide and the morning, decided the chances in the evening with a much lower tide and the problems of leaving a net set on a wet site with cattle about it was not worth trying in the evening. Hence had the evening off with the time being well spent making colour rings and mending nets.

Friday 16th July

Up 05:30. Set two narrow full nets on the saltmarsh to the left of the white barn. Most of the team under covering material by the small borrow pit wall. PI manned a one-man hide on the sea wall and NC, later joined by LW, stayed inland of the sea wall to twinkle if necessary. Long wait for the mud to cover. Once it had, a few Curlew landed in the catching area and the flock increased fairly quickly to 25. At this stage anticipated further Curlew would arrive so did not fire. Whether by coincidence or not, the Curlew in the catching area all left just as an extra strong gust of wind partially collapsed PI’s hide. These birds and others now congregated at the King’s Lynn end of the marsh. Twinkling by NC and LW brought the birds back, most going past the catching area but 40 landing in. Unfortunately three of these were in the safety area of the left hand net which also had the majority of the birds. Before any action could be taken to jiggle all the birds in the catching area left. Although further limited attempts were made to move the birds they now preferred to stay at the tide edge. It was now high tide, the tide having cut due to the strong southerly wind. NC’s remark that we needed a Harrier to make the birds leave the tide edge was promptly answered by the appearance of a Marsh Harrier but it failed to go to the tide edge. Gave up half an hour after high tide.

In view of the continuing strong wind decided to leave the decision on mist netting on the evening tide until as late as possible. The decision on the morning catching attempt was also difficult with no clear option. However, the Lincolnshire team did have substantial numbers of birds present on the Wainfleet Island and requested help there if possible. Hence decided that most of the team would go round to the other side of the Wash to help out there rather than make a separate catching attempt.

With plenty of spare time it was decided to deal with the conifer tree which was pushing down the retaining wall by the entrance to the OSH. The tree was soon removed, together with some of the wall, ready for some of the team who did not go to Wainfleet in the morning to make good the area.

Another of BW’s excellent meals was served at 18:30 with, by special request, and for the second day running, Pavlova for desert. The timing of the meal was to allow mist net setting to follow but in view of the continuing high wind the decision was taken that mist netting was not possible. However, during the course of the meal it was noticed that the wind dropped considerably and to a level where mist netting could take place. After a sortie outside to check the earlier decision was reversed and equipment quickly assembled for a limited mist netting session. With few pools containing water, the nets were set to the King’s Lynn side of the white barn on the normal cannon netting pool. As was always going to be the case, it was only just dark enough. The tape lure was put out an hour before high tide. Two net rounds were done before taking down shortly after high tide.

Saturday 17th July

Up 04:30 for those going to Wainfleet. Easy journey round, arriving on site at the same time as the local team. After the catching attempt, see Lincolnshire Report, breakfast at the Friskney village hall before returning to Terrington to pack away the remaining things.