The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Richard Barnard (Richard.Barnard@rspb.org.uk) has been appointed at the WeBS Local Organiser for the Humber mid-south bank and he is therefore looking for volunteers to do the monthly WeBS Count in the following areas:

Cleethorpes - North Promenade to Anthony`s Bank - Humber Estuary TA323082
Cleethorpes Boating Pool - Humber Estuary TA315085
Cleethorpes North Wall to Grimsby - Humber Estuary TA293106
Grimsby Commercial Docks - Humber Estuary TA275108
Horseshoe Point to Tetney Haven (Humber) - Humber Estuary TA371035
Humberston Fitties to Grimsby (Dock Tower) - Humber Estuary TA315085
Pyewipe - Humber Estuary TA248127
Tetney Haven to Humberston Fitties (Humber) - Humber Estuary TA343051

If anyone could help out in these areas please could you contact Richard directly.

Many thanks

Andrew

_________________
-----------------------------------------------------
Andrew Chick
Website: http://www.forktail.co.uk/

Unfortunately a rather garbled list of count sites? Not originated by the new organiser, as I've seen this messed-up site list before and it inspired neither confidence nor action on my part. Maybe the organiser could clarify? The 3rd site on the list - Humberston Fitties to Grimsby Dock Tower is a) much too big for coverage by one counter and b) in any case covers the same stretch of coast as sites 1 and 3 on the list. Humber sub-site mid south also used to include count site of Horseshoe Point to Grainthorpe Haven, not mentioned here.
Given the encouragement of seeing some organisation/individual really committed to re-igniting the WeBS counts hereabouts, I'd certainly be prepared to get involved again.
Ian Shepherd

Sorry, typo! The query is regarding 6th site on list, which is same as 1st and 3rd combined. Garbling seems to be contagious.

Hi Ian,

Thanks for your interest. The mistake you've highlighted is mine - the list I was sent seems to include some composite or duplicate sectors; I thought I'd removed them all but obviously missed one. Graham has also helpfully pointed out that there may be some sectors missing so I'll contact the BTO this week to confirm and then post up a new list to be sure it's right.

I'm pleased to hear you might be willing to get involved again. I'm certainly very keen to improve the coverage in my area and across the estuary as a whole. As you can see from the list above, there are some very significant gaps that really do need covering. WeBS data is crucial to much of the RSPB's and others' work around the estuary so making sure we have the best data possible is a real priority for me.

I'd welcome the chance to have a chat with you about what you might be interested in doing. My email is above and my phone numbers are 01484 868425 and 07795 062529. Or, if you'd like to message me a number then I'd be more than happy to call you.

Thanks again,

Richard

Hi Richard
One of my counters covers the Horshoe point section which is covered from the
Wildfowlers fence and gate onto the foreshore se to Grainthorpe
Should someone take on the next section to nw they will need to be aware this is the count boundary
as the saltmarsh breaks to sand/mud at this point.
Its also a very wide section at low tide so timing of count can be important
Should someone take it on i can pass on contact details for the HS point counter .
regards John

Hi John,

Thanks for the info - that's good to know. Someone already covers the next section but they're keen to pass it on so, if I do find someone else, then I'll come back to you.

Thanks again,

Richard

P.S. Ian - I'm still waiting to hear back from the BTO with the confirmed list but will hopefully have it this week.

Richard,
The HS point counter will continue, if a new counter comes forward for the adjacent section i can pass
on contact details so they can coordinate counts if possible, as they are both rather large sections,
and some movement of birds across both.
regards John

Hi Ian (and anyone else who is interested),

Apologies for the delay in following this up but I now have a confirmed list of the count sectors from the BTO. This has changed in recent years with some sectors being split and others merged so may be slightly different to expected, but I'm assured it's correct. Fingers crossed the following gives you a bit more confidence! The list of sectors needing counters is:

Horseshoe Point to Tetney Haven (Humber)
Tetney Haven to Humberston Fitties (Humber)
Cleethorpes Boating Pool
Cleethorpes - North Promenade to Anthony`s Bank
Cleethorpes North Wall to Grimsby
Grimsby Commercial Docks
Pyewipe

My contact details are in posts above so if anyone is interested in taking on one or more of these sectors then please don't hesitate to get in touch. If out of office hours then please leave a message on my mobile and I'll call you back.

Many thanks,

Richard

Richard
many thanks for sorting the list out - it's now the same as when I was last involved, except for the spitting-off of the Cleethorpes Boating Lake and Grimsby Docks from their adjacent shores.
I can do the Cleethorpes North Prom to Antony's Bank and Clee Boating lake sectors (on same date) for you, if still required. I'll email my contact details to you.
Ian Shepherd

Many thanks to Ian for getting involved again.

That still leaves the following sectors needing counters:

Horseshoe Point to Tetney Haven
Tetney Haven to Humberston Fitties
Cleethorpes North Wall to Grimsby
Grimsby Commercial Docks
Pyewipe

These include arguably some of the most interesting sectors on the whole Estuary, where counters can be sure of seeing good numbers of the "typical" Estuary species but also stand a good chance of finding something different.

If anyone is interested, or knows someone who they think might be, then please get in touch with me here or on the details below.

Tel: 01484 868425
Mobile: 07795 062529
Email: richard.barnard@rspb.org.uk

I,m told that Mike Pilsworth of RSPB is counting Tetney haven to Horseshoe Point (2 sections )
and has been for some years.
regards John.

Hi John,

That's right - Mike does currently count the two Tetney Haven sectors but they're quite a distance for him to travel, so he's keen to pass them onto someone else. Similarly, I'm planning to count Pyewipe until I can find someone to take that on; basically, we're both gap-filling until more long-term counters can be found.

So, those sectors are available and certainly offer good numbers of birds in interesting settings - the Pyewipe one even comes with the added privilege of ABP permitted access to the docks if that makes it any more appealling to anyone!

Thanks,

Richard