WELWICK YWT
Waders, wildfowl and owls along the bird-rich Humber
This Yorkshire Wildlife Trust site came to birders’ notice in the winter of 2016-17, when a first-winter Pallid Harrier roosted here and hunted along the Humber. The saltmarsh is the largest of its kind on the Humber, covering 112 acres. The reserve is close to Spurn Point, so any number of birds can turn up here on migration or winter along the Humber. There are several breeding birds worth looking for in the area, with a good collection of warblers like Lesser Whitethroat and Whitethroat, Sedge and Reed Warblers, in spring and summer, waders like Redshank and Oystercatcher, and breeding owls like Barn Owl. The harriers are mainly winter sightings, but Marsh Harriers do breed along the Humber, while Hen Harriers come here from across the North Sea or from our unshot uplands. Pallid Harriers are increasingly wintering here in Britain, as they bred as close as Holland in 2017. While I was there, I saw four Short-eared Owls, a Barn Owl flying past at first light, and heard a Long-eared Owl marking its territory. Watching the tide hundreds of dark-bellied Brent Geese were flying in to roost on the newly flooded section by the pump house along with Wigeon, Teal and a few Pintail. There were flocks of Knot, Dunlin, Golden Plover and Bar-tailed Godwit. The area has also seen migrant waders, like Little Stint, Black-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel and Curlew Sandpiper. Little Egrets are everywhere while the channels also hold Shelduck and Curlew in winter. The hawthorns are well worth looking in for autumn migrants such as Pied Flycatcher and Redstart.