Norfolk is famous for its winter flocks of geese, wildfowl and waders who begin to gather here to make their home during our winter months,over the last few days the north Norfolk coast has once again provided some amazing high tides with thousands of Waders being pushed up the beach as the tide works its way in covering the mud and sand flats,submerging the whole estuary.Once the majority of these areas have been consumed by the sea the birds are forced into the ‘Pits’ which are behind the beach where the RSPB have built a number of hides from which you can watch this amazing spectacle.Where large flocks of Knot,Dunlin,Oystercatchers come into roost escaping the tide,forming great masses of birds as they all move and sleep in a synchronized manner as captured below.

 Snettisham can be good for birds all year round but the best shows come only at the very highest tides when the birds are forced into the ‘Pits’ giving a breathtaking experience to those lucky enough to be there,seeing and hearing the sounds of this magical event in mother nature that you’ll never forget within this truly wild place on the Norfolk coast.There was thousands upon thousands of wading birds flying around.feeding on this rich mud that Snettisham is made up of,where the birds are forced to take off and form vast flocks all the time heading closer into land adding to the drama of the place with the sounds and sights of nature that you will not forget. A quiet and remote experience to the intense noise known as the ‘Norfolk Rhapsody’, a truly astonishing spectacle

 The birds almost fly as one,one mintue dark the next flashing silvery-white as they all turn one way their dark backs are facing you,then their pale undersides,in a show of coordination that is second to none,all without a signal or mishap.I have never seen any two birds ever make contact in all the years I’ve witnessed this beautiful site.The only time you see them make any form of contact is on the ground when they hustle together shoulder to shoulder.The return to the mudflats once the tide starts to retreat is a less coordinated affair,but the smaller flocks still reward you with some fine performances where I have slowed the shutter speed down creating this effect below,giving the image a sense of movement

 Its a breathtakingly beautiful site that happens a few times of the year and I try to make them all if I can.I run two 3-day trips to Norfolk during the year -Early Spring In Norfolk and Winter Waders In Norfolk where my knowledge of the North Norfolk Coast will take you to the best places a long this beautiful coastline ensuring you get some lovely images.My four-coming Spring one is fully booked and I have had a lot of interest from people wishing to go on this trip/Norfolk and the advice I have given is I am arranging one day ‘Hide Tide’ days in July,August,September where I will meet you at Snettisham in the early morning,take you to the best places to photography the birds at ‘High Tide’ with all the drama played out but your very eyes, finishing the day off at one of my very successful Barn Owl sites in the evening rounding your day of perfectly.Alternatively Norfolk has become a favorite place with clients wishing to see the beauty of this place on my One To Ones  so if you want to know more about these days, the High Tide dates or are wishing to come then please drop me a line here alternatively use my contact page on my website.

 Snettisham can be a really quiet place most of the time,with the Waders feeding on the mudflats some distance away on the estuary,but on these high tides the place is awoken with a bang,bursting to life,and for me the place never disappoints,with so much going on it truly is one of natures wonders.If you decide to go the key to a successful trip is knowing when these Spring Tides are,by contacting Snettisham for tide times this will tell you the best times to go throughout the year and what you want are the ‘Spring Tides’ as these are the highest ones which force the birds closer to the shoreline.For any other tips or questions then drop me a line on my contact page and I’ll be pleased to help.Good luck