Fortunately, the reserve survived the surge tide that badly affected some areas in the north and east of the region.  Some minor flooding of the path, and some additional beach cliffing in a couple of spots was the extent of the damage.

Good publicity of the high tides from late August through September resulted in lots of visitors to the reserve; over 3,000 during Sept alone.  The vast majority were already members, but we did manage to make 13 new memberships.

Pink-footed geese numbers are building up nicely.  Over 25,000 were
counted leaving the roost on the 12th Nov.  On a couple of occasions a white phase snow goose has been seen accompanying them.

The annual work of removing vegetation from the Roost bank and islands was completed in August, and up to 70,000 knot have subsequently roosted in the pits.

In the last few days little auks have been turning up in many areas, including Snettisham.  There has been a peak of at least nine birds on the 12th, although unfortunately not all have survived, one being   delivered to the reserve office having been found on one of the rides in Ken Hill wood! 

July: Wader peak counts of 1,507 oystercatcher, 650 avocet, 40 golden plover, 3,000 knot, 82 sanderling, 6,713 dunlin, 4 curlew   sandpiper, 1,500 barwit, 890 blackwit, 650 curlew, three whimbrel, 428 redshank, 37 greenshank, 7 spotted redshank, 3 green sandpiper, 3 common sandpiper, and 520 turnstone.  Also, 96 cormorant, 11 little egret, 918 shelduck, single male scaup on the 17th, regular marsh harriers, single hobby, arctic skua, and little gulls, up to 20          Mediterranean gulls (plus four young), 185 Sandwich terns, 72     common terns, single black tern on the 19th, two green woodpeckers, and single wheatears.

August: Wildfowl and wader peaks of 650 shelduck, 3,100 oystercatcher, 365 avocet, 50 ringed plover, single little ringed plover, 1,100 golden plover, 150 grey plover, 25,000 knot, 150 sanderling, 3,500 dunlin, single purple sandpiper from the 29th to 31st, 2,300 barwit, 1,120 blackwit, 650 curlew, three whimbrel, 540 redshank, 27     greenshank, 5 spotted redshank, 3 green sandpiper, single wood sandpiper, 3 common sandpiper, and 480 turnstone.  Also, 32 little egret, single Montagu’s harrier on the 21st, & 26th, max of 2 common buzzards, single red kite on the 27th, single hobby and peregrine regular through the month, up to 2 arctic skua, single great skua,   little gull, and Mediterranean gull, 45 common terns, several       Sandwich terns through the month, occasional barn owl, up to 100 house martins through on the 28th, two grey wagtails, five yellow wagtails, single whinchat, and up to five wheatears.

Sept: Peak counts of 500 pinkies, 525 teal, 6,016 oystercatcher, 1,500 golden plover, 3,100 grey plover, 65,000 knot, 3,205 dunlin, 5 curlew sandpiper, 2,000 barwit, 600 blackwit, 1,274 curlew, 1,395 redshank, 16 greenshank, 30 spotted redshank, & 140 turnstone.  Also, 100+ gannet, 31 little egret, single spoonbill, Montagu’s harrier, & hobby, up to 2 peregrine regular, single little stints, green, common, &     purple sandpipers, great skua, up to 3 Arctic skua, 2 little gulls, & single short-eared owl.

Oct: Peaks of 12,970 pinkies, 205 brents, 1,100 shelduck, 1,000 teal, 162 pintail, 4,270 oystercatcher, 1,800 golden plover, 2,700 grey plover, 70,000 knot, 5,570 dunlin, 2 curlew sandpiper, 3,300 barwits, 6 spotted redshank, and 2 green sandpiper.  Also, red-throated diver, up to 30 little egret, 3 Bewick’s swans, single snow goose (in with the pinkies), goosander, hen harrier, 2 merlins, 3 peregrines, water rail, little stints, little gull, great grey shrike, up to 50 brambling, and 4 snow bunting.
Jim Scott (Snettisham Site Manager)

Sunset at Snettisham - Axex Hamilton