Club members were invited to the Snettisham Spectacular. Open as a public event as many times per year as the tide and sunset times work well together, these events are popular amongst twitchers and casual wildlife enthusiasts alike, as well as photographers.
The ‘Snettisham Spectacular’ is a rare chance to see UK wading birds in their hundreds and thousands, literally being pushed off the mudflats by the fast incoming tide.
The birds take off in one great throng, performing an incredible show in front of your very eyes, a mass of swarming birds, only to settle a little further along the mud flat, for it all to happen again and again, until they have to rest on the lagoon the other side of the sand bank when they are finally defeated by the incoming tide.
It really is an incredible spectacle, and no wonder it’s called the “Snettisham Spectacular”.
The main type of bird here is the knot, which belongs to the sandpiper family.
I got some shots of the knots in flight.
I also got a black-headed gull and oystercatcher in flight. These shots were later on and behind us from the sea view.
My favourite shot from the evening though were these three Canada geese.
Not just that each one has a different in flight pose at the time of the shutter closing, but they were under lit by the golden hour sunlight which I think makes the shot.
The shot also reminded me of a three geese shot I got at Strumpshaw which was more akin to the Hilda Ogden (Coronation Street) mural.
All in all an enjoyable event and more opportunities to practice my wildlife shooting. All of the above shots were with the D500 and Bigma.
Onwards and upwards…