Thousands of Birds Take Flight for the “Snettisham Spectacular”
“The RSPB’s Snettisham Nature Reserve lies on the edge of The Wash, one of the most important bird estuaries in the United Kingdom. The Wash, on England’s east coast, supports over 300,000 birds, and Snettisham sometimes holds more than a third of them.
A few times every year, higher than average tides force thousands of waders, including Knot, Oystercatchers, Sanderlings, Pink-footed Geese, Black and Bar tailed Godwit and Plover, to take flight, and advance up the mud flats in search of food. Dan Kitwood, a photographer for Getty Images, photographed what is one of the most incredible wildlife spectacles in the UK on September 9, 2013”. – The Palm Beach Post
Pink-footed geese fly over the reserve at sunrise. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images via The Palm Beach Post)
The sun rises ahead of the incoming tide at RSPB’s Snettisham Nature reserve. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images via The Palm Beach Post)
Pink-footed geese land on a lake during the incoming tide. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images via The Palm Beach Post)
Godwit flock together seeking new feeding grounds during the incoming tide. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images via The Palm Beach Post)
Birdwatchers gather as waders flock together seeking new feeding grounds during the incoming tide at the RSPB’s Snettisham Nature reserve. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images via The Palm Beach Post)
Waders flock together seeking new feeding grounds during the incoming tide. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images via The Palm Beach Post)
Godwit and other waders gather after seeking new feeding grounds during the incoming tide. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images via The Palm Beach Post)
Waders flock together seeking new feeding grounds during the incoming tide. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images via The Palm Beach Post)
Waders flock together seeking new feeding grounds during the incoming tide. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images via The Palm Beach Post)
A general view over the wash after high tide at the RSPB’s Snettisham Nature reserve. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images via The Palm Beach Post)
