September is always an exciting time of year for our two reserves, as migration is in full swing for both reserves, as well being the time of year when very high spring tides cover all the mud at Snettisham, giving spectacular displays of all the waders swirling about in amazing patterns over The Wash.
Waders putting on their spectacular display out over The Wash Photo credit: Sue Bryan
At Snettisham many visitors arrive for our ‘Wader Spectaculars’, often arriving in the dark for the early morning ‘spectaculars’ or to enjoy the sun and see wonderful sunsets for the afternoon ‘spectaculars’ as the afternoons turn into the evening. The waders this year that have been putting on the swirling patterns in the sky, have included 52,000 Knot, 9,000 Oystercatchers, 3,500 Dunlin, 3,500 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2,600 Sanderling, 1016 Curlew,786 Redshank, 285 Turnstone and 127 Ringed Plover. Once the waders were in the air, visitors watched in awe as the waders made their amazing patterns and decided what to do next. The Knot, Oystercatchers and Redshank mostly come into the pits and chatter away to each other as they jostle for space on the islands and roost bank, joining the 2,500 Black-tailed Godwit already present.
Knot and Black-tailed Godwit jostle for space in the pits at Snettisham Photo Credit: Sue Bryan
However, the Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew and some Dunlin and Sanderling choose to stay out in the marsh or go to the fields behind the seawall. Some visitors on guided walks enjoyed the experience of guides and watched Common Sandpipers and Curlew Sandpipers also present on the pits as well as five Gannets that were cruising over the water out in The Wash. A couple of migrant Northern Wheatears were flushed off the path as one of the guided groups returned for a delicious breakfast as part of their booked Whirling Wader Breakfast walk.
At Titchwell Marsh the first week of September brought an array of scarcer migrants including, Whinchat, Hawfinch, Northern Wheatear, Common Redstart, Pied Flycatcher and Honey Buzzard which either flew over the reserve or stayed for a while in our bushes. A Wryneck was seen at Thornham Point whilst a Grey-headed Wagtail (thunbergi) was seen in the paddocks. During the first two weeks the Freshmarsh had intermittent sightings of: American Golden Plover, White-rumped Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Glossy Ibis, Red-necked Phalarope and Cattle Egret.
Red-necked Phalarope Photo Credit: Cliff Gilbert
American Golden Plover with European Golden Plover Photo Credit: Sue Bryan
American Golden Plover Photo Credit: Sue Bryan
Out at sea our ardent sea-watchers saw Black Tern, Manx Shearwater and Sooty Seawater on a few dates when the winds were favourable for sea-watching.