Wader Roost Study Morecambe Bay Summary May 2013

Transcription

1 MORECAMBE BAY Morecambe Bay is the largest continuous intertidal area in the whole of the UK ive major rivers, the Leven, Kent, Keer, Lune and Wyre. Approximately 120 square miles (310 square km) of mainly sandflats and mudflats are exposed at low tide and covered on most high tides. Also included in the intertidal The slope of the mudflats and sandflats is very where there are tidal bores reaching up to a speed of 9 knots, such as the Kent Estuary. SPECIAL PROTECTION Approximately 111 square miles of the sand-flats, mudflats, rocky skeers and saltmarsh in Morecambe Bay is given the highest possible level of conservation designation in the form of European RAMSAR site and Special Protection Area. The underlying reason for this designation is that Morecambe Bay supports large numbers of shellfish, crustaceans and other mud-dwelling creatures. Whilst commercially valuable and sustainably harvested - worms are well- ant food supply for, for example, over 200,000 birds, mainly waders and wildfowl, which spend the winter months in Morecambe Bay. The Baltic Tellin is a very important food for one of the most numerous and aerially spectacular birds, the Knot (see photographs below fig 1-2). Fig1 Baltic Tellin Fig 2 Huge numbers of Knot

2 REFUELLING PIT-STOP In addition to overwintering birds, many thousands of migrating waders use the Bay as a refuelling pitstop on their way to and from their breeding sites in the far North and their wintering areas. The exact number of birds passing through on migration is not fully known as some will only spend a matter of hours before moving on, whilst others may spend a week or more refuelling their depleted fat reserves before carrying on their migration. Therefore we only know the number of birds which we can count at any one time. Fig 3: WHERE DO THE WILDFOWL AND WADERS VISITING MORECAMBE BAY NEST? As can be seen from the map, different species of bird sharing the same section of shore in Morecambe Bay in the winter can be from Arctic Canada or the far east of Siberia or points in between! A common theme is of birds using the very short summer in the Arctic to nest, helped by 24-hour daylight, and then r spent in Morecambe Bay. Therefore one of the problems with disturbance relates to the late summer when many birds have returned from the Arctic, yet the holiday season and associated coastal leisure activities are still in full swing. The map also gives an example of a species (Dunlin) where one population migrates through Morecambe Bay in both autumn and spring, but spends the winter in western Africa, yet another population spends the winter in Morecambe Bay. Dunlin which breed in Iceland migrate to west Africa for the winter, but the larger, perhaps more robust, Dunlin populations from Scandinavia and north Siberia spend the winter in Morecambe Bay.

3 HARBINGERS OF SPRING Many of these birds have special significance to local people when they arrive on their breeding grounds. -good factor of winter being over. For example, the author was invited to a formal dinner in the Faeroe Islands in The menu was stuffed Puffin which was sustainably harvested using fleyge nets. Whilst we might be horrified at such an iconic bird being regarded as the national dish, the main topic of conversation at the dinner was the Faeroese concern over culling Oystercatchers in the Burry Inlet, relating to perceived impact on cockle stocks. The first Oystercatcher of the spring is therefore an eagerly awaited sign that the gloomy winter months have come to an end. As the map suggests, the same winter flock of Oystercatchers in Morecambe Bay might include birds Lune valley. Another example of special significance to local people is closer to home from the nearby fells. Whilst attending a ceilidh at Lowgill old school at the end of February, the enthusiastic conversation was all about the returning Lapwing and especially Curlew. Even though the waders might only be a few miles away in the depths of winter, they wait until signs of spring to make the move up on to the fells. Therefore our custodial responsibility for the waders and wildfowl in Morecambe Bay stretches far beyond its boundaries in ways which are not always immediately obvious. SHOREBIRD SPECTACULAR Most people are aware of large flocks of roosting Starlings and associated aerial manoeuvres as they have provided spectacular footage for wildlife and more general current affairs programmes such as the One Show. Therefore when the RSPB publicise their Winter Starling Roost, they receive a huge response from visitors inspired by the extensive media publicity. However, equally awe-inspiring aerial manoeuvres by large flocks of Knot, Dunlin and other waders remain relatively unwatched and possibly underappreciated at many sites in Morecambe Bay. An on-going aim of this work and the forthcoming more detailed recreational study is to raise the awareness of these spectacular flocks of waders to the SAFE HAVENS FOR SHOREBIRDS These awe-inspiring flocks of waders can be seen most easily as the birds collect close inshore as the incoming tide covers their feeding areas. This is when they gather in ever-increasing flocks looking for somewhere to rest, ideally without being disturbed, until the receding tide starts to uncover their feeding areas. It is the high tide roosts which are the focus of this study. These roosts are found on undisturbed locations as close as possible to the edge of the tide. The most regular locations are saltmarshes, shingle beaches, piers and jetties and (e.g. Morecambe) sea defence groynes.

4 This study was commissioned in August 2012 with three main aims: a) To map and determine which roosts hold a significant number of birds. This might be important numbers of a single species or a sizeable assemblage of a wide variety of species. b) To establish which of these roosts are under the greatest threat from disturbance. c) To determine which roosts have natural aspect of the heritage of the Bay. These include roosts adjoining coastal towns/tourist those which can be integrated with a visit to key heritage assets Once a month an army of counters is responsible for visiting every section of the Bay and recording the reason, the counts are sch. These counts are referred to as WeBS and the results - currently by the British Trust for Ornithology. This produces a five-year mean which also attempts to iron out anomalies such a single count being missed due to unavailability or the birds being displaced by water-based activities such as jet-skiing or land-based activities such as dogwalkers. f the Morecambe Bay population As can be seen from the map below, high tide roosts as located by the WeBS counters cover the whole of the Bay. However, this is not the whole story as regards roosts. Suitable roosting sites which are covered birds to use on the lower tides and a good example of this is Red Nab at Heysham. It is important that these roosts are not ignored. Location of WeBS High Tide Roosts Around Morecambe Bay Leven Viaduct east Sandgate Marsh Halforth Reake Marsh Capes Head The Marsh Arrad Marsh Meathop Leven Viaduct west Arnside Plumpton Hall Canon Winder Marsh South Ulverston Jenny Brown's Point Conishead Bank Gas terminal saltmarsh Kents Bank Inner Marsh Cavendish Dock Bardsea East Plain Carnforth Marsh Chapel Island West Plain Training Wall Maskel Point Bolton-le-Sands Aldingham Cowp Scar Tummerhill and area Newbiggin Hest Bank Teal Bay Headin Haw Scalestones Point Breakwater/Prom Western shore Rampside Bare Pool/Swimming Pool groyne Eastern Marsh Sunnyslopes Breakwater Broadway Breakwater Sheep Island Foulney Heliport Bubbles Breakwater/Stone Jetty Lagoons Piel Island South End Wooden jetty Boat groyne/town Hall Breakwater Shelly Bars Red Nab Lades Marsh Aldcliffe and Heaton Marsh Middleton Colloway Marsh Plover Scar Cocker's Dyke Conder Estuary Marsh Knott End East (Willow Close) Bank End Glasson Marsh Fence Roost (Cockerham Marsh) Tiger's Tail Fleetwood Marine Lakes Lane Ends East Rossall Point excluding GC Pool and Lakes Fluke Hall Lane Ends Rossall Point Golf Course Pool Fleetwood Marsh Burrow's Marsh Arm Hill Barnaby's Sands Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO. Crown copyright and database right All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number Scale 1:250,000

5 The remit, however, was to select a number of WeBS count roosts from all areas of Morecambe Bay which were relevant to one or more of a) to c) above. Scale 1:250,000 Selected High Tide Roosts in Morecambe Bay Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO. Crown copyright and database right All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number Chapel Island Kents Bank South Ulverston Piel Island West Plain East Plain Foulney Hest Bank Town Hall Breakwater Bubbles Breakwater Western shore Sunnyslopes Breakwater Shelly Bars Heliport Lagoons South End Red Nab Aldcliffe and Heaton Marsh Middleton Plover Scar Lane Ends Fluke Hall Rossall Point Arm Hill Lane Ends to Bank End For example, the roost at Middleton hosts two species in internationally important numbers (Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit) and yet is subject to disturbance from air, sea and land! Obviously, at Middleton, the spectacular flocks of Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit, intermixed with Grey Plover and Dunlin provide a potential for appropriate and respectful enjoyment and therefore apply to category c) Other roosts have been chosen for more specific reasons. For example, there are particular concerns over actual and future potential disturbance levels at several roosts, perhaps notably those at the south end of Walney Island and on the Flookburgh peninsula. It is important that potential increases in disturbance levels are addressed. An example of this is the need to address potential disturbance issues relating to coastal caravan sites applying for 12-month licences and this is already in the pipeline at two sites with informative notices relating to what can be seen in hand. Some ge centres of population, both resident and tourist. Obvious examples here are the sea defence groynes on Morecambe Stone Jetty (by the Eric Morecambe statue) and Sunny Slopes. These lend themselves to informative notices along the promenade

6 SHOREBIRDS OF MORECAMBE BAY A NATURAL HERITAGE In conclusion, perhaps the most pressing need is to address the sites subject to serious recreational pressures at one or more season. The main sites under threat appear to comprise South Walney, West and East Plain (Flookburgh peninsula), HestBank/Bolton-le-Sands, Heysham old heliport, Middleton, Aldcliffe Marsh, Plover Scar and Rossall Point. Given the right measures and installation of suitable protocols (to be addressed in the forthcoming recreational study), these sites will hopefully be available for appropriate and respectful enjoyment of large assemblages of waders and wildfowl for many years to come Top 10 waterbirds wintering in Morecambe Bay (based on 5 year peak mean to 2011) Species Total 1 Oystercatcher Knot Dunlin Lapwing Curlew Redshank Wigeon Shelduck Teal Eider 4827 This report was written by Pete Marsh, with Jean Roberts. It was commissioned by Morecambe Bay Partnership, as part of the development of the Headlands to Headspace (H2H) Landscape Partnership Scheme, funded by Heritage Lottery Fund. work. Please credit Morecambe Bay Partnership when quoting this Please contact Morecambe Bay Partnership if you would like access to the full Wader Roost Study for Morecambe Bay. Morecambe Bay Partnership, Unit 19C, The Yarn Rooms The Factory, Castle Mills, Aynam Rd, Kendal, LA9 7DE info@morecambebay.org.uk