is on – Knot

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Knot typically feed out on mudflats, following the rise and fall of the tide, to gain easiest access to mud-dwelling invertebrates. But they are also quick to cash in on an easy meal. So, watch the weather forecasts, and in the aftermath of a severe onshore gale, it can be worth visiting any stretch of shoreline that bore the brunt of the weather. In the case of north-west Norfolk, a northerly winter storm can produce dividends, particularly if the full force hit the coast at low tide. Washed up on the next tide will be vast numbers of marine creatures, ranging from worms to razorshells. The birds quickly descend and gorge themselves, oblivious to onlookers and photographers.

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If you are a Snettisham (Norfolk) regular, then check the timetable for not just dawn events, but also for a ‘sunset spectacular’. And if you have not seen one before, it is truly extraordinary, with amazing numbers of waders, particularly Knot, coming in to roost, in the most magnificent light. Not every sunset spectacular delivers on its promise, but so long as the birds perform and a cloud bank does not obscure the dying rays of the sun and sunset glow, it will live up to expectations. A ‘sunset spectacular’ should be on everyone’s ‘ bucket list’. The experience is a bit overwhelming, but if you can resist the temptation to just watch, for photography a telephoto lens (somewhere between 300-500mm) is ideal. Check your results as you go – you may need to intentionally over-expose your shots.