Trip reports

Coach Trip to RSPB Snettisham

Adult black-tailed godwit in summer plummage, at the RSPB Snettisham nature reserve, Norfolk
RSPB Images - black-tailed godwit at Snettisham

Saturday, 17 October 2009

Phil Blatcher was our leader today. The weather was mainly overcast with a cool northerly breeze, max temperature 12deg C, 54deg F.

32 Members enjoyed this trip to Snettisham. An estimated 70,000 birds were seen!

After 1.5 hours in the Snettisham Coastal Park we moved on to the RSPB Reserve where we stayed until 18:45. Sunset was at 18:00 and there was 6.7 metre high tide at 18:49. Around 18:00 the wader movement was especially spectacular with a moving tide of some 70,000 waders edging forward on the ever decreasing mud and regularly flying up in massive flocks like swarms of insects. These flocks included an estimated 50,000 knot as well as many thousands of bar-tailed godwits and oystercatchers.

A total of 69 species were seen.

Highlights:

Pink-footed goose (c500), Egyptian goose (~60), shelduck (~1000), pintail (~100), goldeneye (1), barn owl (1), house martin (~12), redwing (~8)
Waders: Knot (~50,000), bar-tailed godwit (1000s), oystercatcher (1000s), turnstone (100s) and black-tailed godwit (c50).
Also seen: Little egret (~6), buzzard (4), marsh harrier, stonechat.

Mammals:
Hare, rabbit, brown rat

Many thanks to Phil for leading this trip.