Dave Kjear and I are just back from Snettisham today.
The best time to do this is Sept and as it happens it is now and this weekend ( although there is a small chance in 2 weeks time)
We were in the special 2 man (just) photo hide and it does cost (£15) but it is booked solid for the foreseeable future. For future reference it can be booked by contacting the RSPB wardens at Snetterisham and they take booking from Jan and you will need to book it fast in Jan if you want the Sept tide - I think it is first come first served.
The best time for evening flights against a setting sun was tonight or possibly tomorrow night. Tonight was good so if the weather holds tomorrow should be as good if not better. Beyond this, over the next 5 days, the second daily high tide coincides with darkness.
The following four morning tides will provide some good opportunities as it exceeds the minimum high (6.8m) required to help push the birds onto the pits. These tides last until next Tuesday morning.
Do not turn up for high tide, turn up (at the hide/bank) for about 2 hours before.
Some other info, the highest tide of the year is this Sunday Morning about 8.30ish (and I mean HIGH as it could even swamp the path in places - so I would play safe and bring wellies).
The carpark is about 1.5km from the nearest hide and 2.5km from the photohide along a track and then on the shingle sea wall. This takes about 45min to walk hence you really need to be leaving the carpark about 3 hours before high to catch all the action (i.e. 5.30am this Sun morning). There are no facilities on the site. There is no ordinary vehicle access to the hides ( disabled access by prior RSPB consent) and the wardens do randomly patrol the access points which are gated and can be padlocked.
The best hides for photography (other than the special one) are the Rotary and Sanctuary Hides (facing east and North respectively) although, given that the following days it is sun rise that is ihe only viable option, the West facing hide at the south end of the pits may prove better ( allow 1 hour to walk to this ).
That said, there are 4 hides (other than the special photoraphic hide) and you could get good group shots from them or on the sea wall.
There are tides in October that are promising, Septermbers Tide is just to most promising as it is the equinox tide.
Discussion
1 repliesWould like to have a go at photograhing the waders at Snettisham this autumn and wanted some advice from anybody that might have done it.
I know there is a minimum high tide required to get the waders off the Wash and on to the pits. Does anybody know what height this is?
Also, has anybody used the special photographers hide (fee payable I belive) which is situated in front of the others hides? If so is it worth it?
Many thanks in advance
Paul
The best time to do this is Sept and as it happens it is now and this weekend ( although there is a small chance in 2 weeks time)
We were in the special 2 man (just) photo hide and it does cost (£15) but it is booked solid for the foreseeable future. For future reference it can be booked by contacting the RSPB wardens at Snetterisham and they take booking from Jan and you will need to book it fast in Jan if you want the Sept tide - I think it is first come first served.
The best time for evening flights against a setting sun was tonight or possibly tomorrow night. Tonight was good so if the weather holds tomorrow should be as good if not better. Beyond this, over the next 5 days, the second daily high tide coincides with darkness.
The following four morning tides will provide some good opportunities as it exceeds the minimum high (6.8m) required to help push the birds onto the pits. These tides last until next Tuesday morning.
Do not turn up for high tide, turn up (at the hide/bank) for about 2 hours before.
Some other info, the highest tide of the year is this Sunday Morning about 8.30ish (and I mean HIGH as it could even swamp the path in places - so I would play safe and bring wellies).
The carpark is about 1.5km from the nearest hide and 2.5km from the photohide along a track and then on the shingle sea wall. This takes about 45min to walk hence you really need to be leaving the carpark about 3 hours before high to catch all the action (i.e. 5.30am this Sun morning). There are no facilities on the site. There is no ordinary vehicle access to the hides ( disabled access by prior RSPB consent) and the wardens do randomly patrol the access points which are gated and can be padlocked.
The best hides for photography (other than the special one) are the Rotary and Sanctuary Hides (facing east and North respectively) although, given that the following days it is sun rise that is ihe only viable option, the West facing hide at the south end of the pits may prove better ( allow 1 hour to walk to this ).
That said, there are 4 hides (other than the special photoraphic hide) and you could get good group shots from them or on the sea wall.
There are tides in October that are promising, Septermbers Tide is just to most promising as it is the equinox tide.