SITES

	Greatham, Teesside, UK
	West Site, Billingham, UK
	Grimsby, Humberside, UK
Humber Estuary Nettleton Bottom Quarry Biodiversity Management
	Calais, France
	Huelva, Spain
	Scarlino, Italy
	Teluk Kalung, Malaysia
	Umbogintwini, South Africa
	Lake Charles, USA
	Burnie, Tasmania

Index by Category

Appendices

References

Grimsby, Humberside, United Kingdom

Humber Estuary

The Humber Estuary is an area of international importance for waterbirds, and is designated as a SSSI, a SPA and a Ramsar site. It is one of the major wildlife estuaries in the UK and ranks amongst the top ten in Europe (Evans 1996) holding up to an average of nearly 105,000 waterbirds (20,000 wildfowl and 85,000 waders). Eight species of waterbirds are regularly present in Internationally Significant numbers and a further 15 species in populations of National significance. The bird species for which the Humber is of specific importance are listed in Table 16.

Little Terns and Pochard also nest in Nationally Significant Numbers and at Donna Nook there is a breeding population of about 800 Grey Seals.

The estuary is an important nursery and winter area for fish especially Plaice, the site holding about 3% of the North Sea population.

Intertidal mud and sandflats make up the largest and most important areas within the estuary, and these habitats support the majority of the Humber's internationally and nationally significant waterbird populations. Other important habitats include saltmarsh, sand dunes, brackish water reedbeds, and saline lagoons that together provide habitats for a diversity of rare or scarce breeding birds, invertebrates and plants.

Most of the important wildlife sites are recognised under both statutory and non-statutory nature conservation designations.

Designated Sites for Nature Conservation
As shown in Figure 13 the most important wetland habitats in the Humber Estuary are designated as sites of Special Scientific Interest [SSSI's] under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as Amended). They are also Special Protection Areas [SPA's] as provided for under the EC Directive 79/409 on the Conservation of Wild Birds (the "Birds Directive"). On the Humber Estuary these Statutory Protected areas are known collectively as the "Humber Flats, Marshes and Coast (Humberside / Lincolnshire) they cover 15,202 ha and are listed as a Natura 2000 Site.

In addition these wetland areas have also been designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. The site also qualifies under this Article by the regular breeding of 25 pairs of Pochard (Aythya ferina) representing 7% of the British breeding population.

In addition to the winter bird populations given in Table 16 internationally significant numbers of Ringed Plover pass through the Humber Estuary during spring and autumn migration (1,500, 3% of the East Atlantic Flyway population). About 1000 Sanderling have passed through the estuary in spring, representing about 1% of the East Atlantic Flyway population. In recent years however, spring Sanderling numbers have been lower (HENL 1999).

The Humber is becoming increasingly important for Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) with peak winter counts in 1997/1998 of 1223 birds and 1998/1999 winter 866 birds (HENL 1999). The Humber Estuary also holds significant numbers of Grey Seals (Halichoerus grypus), this breeding population being the most southeasterly colony of Grey Seals in Britain (JNCC 1999).

Pyewipe Mudflats
The Pyewipe mudflats and saltmarsh are an important sub-section of the Humber Flats, Marshes and Coast SSSI / SPA. This 349.8 ha sub-site was first designated as an SSSI in 1983. The site was re-notified in 1988 and the area within the SSSI extended to 1,118 ha. The Pyewipe mudflats and marsh are adjacent to the Tioxide site.

At the time of its designation the Pyewipe mudflat habitat holds a locally rich population of invertebrates that in turn support large numbers of passage and wintering waterbirds. Peak Shelduck counts can exceed the internationally significant figure of 1,300 birds. Nationally important populations (i.e. at least 1% of the British total) of Dunlin, Redshank and Curlew are often present and at times Grey Plover numbers also exceeded 1% of the British population (NCC 1983, Shepherd ND.) Ruff can also be present on the site in significant numbers with Pyewipe holding over 2% of the wintering British population.

At the time of its SSSI designation the summed peak counts of wading birds using the Pyewipe mudflats and marshes exceeded 14,000 birds (Shepherd et. al. ND.). In recent years Black-tailed Godwit have increased (see Table 17).

In addition to the intertidal areas small areas of saltmarsh are also associated with the Pyewipe SSSI. These exhibit a clear example of zonation beginning with a band of colonising cord grass (Spartina anglica). To the landward of this is an area of mixed saltmarsh with assemblages of characteristic species such as common saltmarsh grass (Puccinellia maritima), sea aster (Aster tripolium) and scurvy grass (Cochlearia officinalis). Many waders, particularly Redshank and Dunlin use the saltmarsh as a high water roost.

Birds on the Humber Estuary
The main bird interest around the Humber Estuary is the large populations of wildfowl and waders that either pass through the estuary on migration or congregate in large feeding flocks during the winter. Of particular interest is the regular wintering population of dark-breasted Brent Geese (Branta bernicla bernicla) the most northerly regular site in Britain for this sub-species, The Brent geese that winter at Lindisfarne in Northumberland being the light-bellied race B. b. hrota.

Other important bird populations on Humberside are found in marsh and reedbed habitats of the upper estuary. Blacktoft Sands is an RSPB reserve at the confluence of the Ouse and Trent. Up to 100 pairs of Bearded Reedlings (Panurus biarmicus) nest here (17% of the total British breeding population) and over 500 birds can be present in the autumn (Elliot 1989). Other uncommon nesting species include Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) and Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) with Hen Harrier (C. cyaneus) being a regular winter visitor.

Invertebrate
The internationally and nationally significant populations of waterbirds birds inhabiting the Humber are supported by the large invertebrate food source of the estuary. (see Table 18)

In addition to the above invertebrate species that support the large numbers of waterbirds occurring in the estuary shrimps and Edible Cockle (Cardium edule) are of commercial importance.

Fish
The Humber Estuary is an important nursery and over-wintering site for a number of species of North Sea fish. In addition Salmon and Sea Trout migrate up the river, although they are not as numerous as in the past. The important fish species occurring in the Humber are summarised in Table 19.

Seals
The Grey Seal population of about 800 animals is mainly centred at Donna Nook to the southeast of the Tioxide site. This is the most southerly colony of breeding Grey Seals along the North Sea Coast producing over 220 pups per year (HEMS 1996).