15/01/2017 Norfolk for the High Tide Spectacular

Sunday 15 January 2017
Norfolk 
Norfolk Bird Tours with Chris Mills
A few times a year, higher-than-average high tides force thousands of waders, including Knot,  Oystercatchers and Pink-footed Geese to take flight from the mudflats to escape the incoming waters. This is the famous Snettisham High Tide Spectacular.

I was really looking forward to this trip with Chris Mills from Norfolk Tours. Thankfully, despite the floods on Friday night, Snettisham was open to the public and the event was able to go ahead.  Although it was cold and wet, visibility was not bad.

Chris picked me up first in the minibus at 06.35 in Hunstanton and we were in place at Snettisham just after 07.00.  

We could hear, but not see, the Pink-footed Geese in The Wash.  As dawn started to break we could see all the birds on the mud where they had roosted overnight.  It all started to kick off around 07.30 just as we were feeling the wet and cold.

• First to leave the roost were some of the 60 000 Knot.  They left in groups of 200-300 flying in formation, low over our heads towards the pits by the hides behind us. 

•  In the distance, we could see huge spectacular Mexican wave formations as the Knot made their move.  

• Below you can see a bank of Knot in front of the Oystercatchers.

• You really need to see the youtube video to get the best feel for this amazing event.

Knot at Snettisham

• After 2 hours or so the Knot made the return flight from the pits to the mud after the tide receded. My overriding memory will always be witnessing this return passage of over 3000 birds flying, in formation, just 30-40 feet above us.

• The Oystercatchers were next to emerge from the roost but nowhere near in numbers or as a spectacle.
• The Pink-footed Geese, surprisingly, stayed put till very late.  Perhaps they fancied a "lie-in" after their ordeal on Friday night.

We retreated to the comfort of the Copper Kettle Cafe in Hunstanton and my freshly prepared bacon and egg sandwich and a couple of cups of coffee went down a treat.

The main task, even in these adverse weather conditions, proved to be a truly spectacular event.  

Everything from now on would be a bonus. 

Thornham Harbour

Next stop was at Thornham Harbour to look for Twite. 

• We didn't even need to leave the car park - there, drinking from the pools of water in the car park, was a flock of 30+ of the beauties.  They stayed with us for the duration of our stay - 30 minutes or so.
• Also present, again less than 50 metres from the car park, was a stunning Spotted Redshank quietly sleeping in the muddy channel.

We met Jake and 3 of his friends and they told us that the Feruginous Duck at Holme Bird Observatory was showing well.  So we were off to there next.

Holme Bird Observatory

• The Feruginous Duck was indeed showing well but with it's head tucked in, stationary and probably asleep.

We took shelter from the rain in the Observatory and enjoyed the hospitality while we had lunch.

Titchwell

Our final destination was Titchwell where we were anxious to do some sea watching before it got dark.

• After a brief stop at the feeders to see the Brambling we made haste to the sea.
• On the sea, there were at least 7 Long-tailed Ducks including a number of males.
• For me, the highlight was the close Velvet Scoter swimming with 2 Common Scoters.  A little later we saw upwards of 3000 Common Scoter on the sea after they had been flushed by a dog walker.
• Also present were several Goldeneye, including some stunning males.  Over the day we must have had over 30 of this species.
• On the way back we saw a few Avocets, not on the frashwater lake, which was flooded, but on the mud on the saltmarsh.
• Our final activity was to see the Harriers as they went to roost.  At least 25 Marsh Harriers came in to provide us with a fitting finish.

What a day!  

The main event lived up to it's reputation and as an added  bonus we saw some stunning birds.  A species count in excess of 80.