Snettisham
SouthgateOpenSee opening timesCrunch along the sweeping beach, look out across the vast and dramatic Wash, and watch tens of thousands of birds take to the air, shimmering and whirling above the mudflats in a feathered cacophony.
About
Snettisham reserve sits on the stunning Norfolk coast, tucked into the huge Wash bay. Enjoy panoramic views across saline lagoons, salt marsh and a vast expanse of mudflats.
From late summer to early winter, tens of thousands of wading birds gather on the mudflats where they roost overnight. During an incoming tide, these birds are pushed closer to the beach and on especially high spring tides, vast flocks of Knot, Dunlin and Oystercatchers take to the air en masse as the water covers the mudflats. The commotion of thousands of wingbeats, excited calls and swirling flocks creates an exhilarating nature spectacle. We call this the 'whirling wader spectacle', a special event that doesn't happen every day. Check out our Snettisham Spectacular Dates and Times guide for your best chance of seeing it.
There will be no Snettisham Spectaculars until next March.
During the winter months, up to 40,000 Pink-footed Geese make their way from Iceland and Greenland to gather on the The Wash. At first light they take flight in close V-shaped formations of trailing skeins across the pale sky of a Norfolk dawn. The high-pitched 'wink-wink' sound of geese calling to each other resonates across the seascape then slowly diffuses as they head inland to find food for the day.
At a glance
Contact Snettisham
snettisham@rspb.org.uk Snettisham, Beach Rd, King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE31 7RA 01485 211973