Knots landing again

We spent the night in North Norfolk and were up well before dawn to get to Knots Landing (RSPB Snettisham) in time for the high tide and the potential for a Wader Spectacular. We were not disappointed. The weather was damp and drizzly and very cold and we got soaked through, but we witnessed tens of thousands of Knot (Calidris canutus) murmurating over the advancing tide as we headed for the landing site.
Most have at this point already been pushed off the deluged mudflats of The Wash, their low-tide feeding grounds, and into the air. Within minutes, the murmurs flood the banks of the inland lagoons with birds crammed tightly together to ride out the high tide. They wait patiently for a distant trigger that calls them once the ebbing tide retreats along the muddy shoreline.
Knot at dawn, RSPB Snettisham, Norfolk
As the tide turns, they flock back to sea, murmurating along the way – strength in numbers – to confuse any preying Peregrines. Ultimately, the seem lost to the waves but are merely gone from view.
Flocking Knot looking like a live Escher etching
This is not the first time we’ve seen the Knot murmurations, although it is the first time we’ve made a special trip to catch them at a dawn high tide. We visit the area often and have seen these wondrous flocks on numerous occasions and caught one wader spectacular just as the sun was setting a few years ago. Always amazing to watch the sun set over the sea when one is ostensibly on England’s ea...

Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - February 23, 2023 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Birds Source Type: blogs