Vast expanses of mudflats and saltmarsh

Tetney Marshes covers more than 3,700 acres of coastal mudflats, saltmarsh, dunes and saline lagoons on the north Lincolnshire coast, and forms an important part of the Humber Estuary Site of Scientific Interest and Special Protected Area.

As a focal point, out at sea it has the amazing Haile Sand Fort, built during World War I to defend the Humber from submarines. The reserve was first famous for its Little Tern colony, now no longer active, mainly due to changes in the shingle on the beach, but disturbance must have been another reason, with the area attracting large numbers of folks to the beach, including dog walkers.

Today, breeding birds include a number of waders, with Redshank being the top bird along with Oystercatcher and Ringed Plover. Winter sees more than 1,000 darkbellied Brent Geese using the area, but the passage migrants here can be exceptional! All four harrier species have been found, along with Roughlegged Buzzard, Hobby, Red Kite, Osprey, Merlin and Short-eared Owls.

Waders have included many rarities, such as Whiterumped, Buff-breasted, Pectoral, Wood and Curlew Sandpipers. Winter sea ducks include Scaup, Long tailed, Velvet and Common Scoter. Black Brant has been found among the geese, along with European White-fronted Geese. There has been a great mix of warblers found, plus Olive-backed and Richard’s Pipit, Ring Ouzel, Firecrest, Lapland and Snow Bunting, Shore Lark, Great Grey Shrike, and Serin, while 10 Bee-eaters must have been amazing!