About

Snettisham reserve sits on the stunning Norfolk coast, tucked into the huge Wash. Enjoy panoramic views across brackish 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 below for your best chance of seeing it. Please do not expect to see the Snettisham wildlife spectacles outside of the dates and times we have selected. You may be disappointed.

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

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Plan your visit

Knots at RSPB Snettisham
Knots at RSPB Snettisham
Events at Snettisham

Discover the amazing natural spectacles of Snettisham's whirling waders in late summer and autumn and dawn flights of Pink-footed geese during winter.

2026 Snettisham Wader Spectacles

Date                            Leave RSPB Car Park at

Sunday 22 March                      6:15am

Saturday 15 August                   6:30am

Sunday 16 August                      7:15am

Tuesday 1 September                7:30am

Wednesday 2 September           8:15am

Sunday 13 September                6:30am   

Monday 14 September               7:00am   

Tuesday 29 September               6:15am

Wednesday 30 September         7:00am

Thursday 1 October                     8:00am

Thursday 29 October                   6:00am   

 

Car parking until 11am on event days is strictly by pre-booked ticket only. Book your parking space at www.events.rspb.org.uk/snettisham. Fees apply

Booking on the day will not be available and visitors attempting to park without a ticket will be turned away.           

Group bookings

Groups are welcome by prior arrangement. Please contact Titchwell Reserve on 01485 210779 prior to your visit.

Snettisham Spectacular Guides

Knot foraging along tideline, Snettisham
Knot
Snettisham Dedication Page

We know that Snettisham is a special place for many. If you or your loved one have shared happy memories there, you can make a donation to the reserve on our dedication page. It can be in celebration or in memory, and you can post an image along with your message.

Lone Ringed Plover stood on sand, with the sun setting behind
Ringed Plover
How we're helping plovers at Snettisham

Since 1984, we’ve lost more than one in three Ringed Plovers in the UK. Find out how a dedicated team of plover lovers is helping these threatened birds bounce back and learn what you can do to help.  

Donate to our East Coast Wetlands Appeal

With UK wetlands under threat, help protect our East Coast Wetland Reserves, so our vision for the future gets off to a flying start.

Contact Snettisham