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| Golden plover and other birds in flight over The Humber near Grimsby dock tower |
Between 50 and 60 delegates 'zoomed' in to this week's informative and entertaining Humber Nature Partnership conference to discover the latest research data from this globally-important estuary. There were four outstanding speakers, and the proceedings were expertly 'compered' by host-for-the-morning Daryl Burdon.
Jackson Sage: The Problems of Bird Disturbance
Almost all British wildlife is all-too-familiar with human disturbance.
Sometimes it is intermittent only, but, at other times, it is relentless - in which case it flees the scene.
In his absorbing presentation, Jackson Sage reviewed the most pressing threats - from jet-skis to free-roaming dogs - and their impact.
At the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's showcase at Far Ings, near Barton-upon-Humber, off-road bikers are almost of daily concern.
A growing problem in summer is the use of disposable barbecues - sometimes in areas of dry grass or other vegetation and sometimes even inside wooden bird-watching hides.
On the plus side, the installation of signage seems to have reduced the problem of off-road vehicles at East Halton Skitter, near Immingham, and talks with paraglider organisations have had a positive outcome.
Said Jackson: "We want people to enjoy the estuary and its surroundings, but we also them to behave responsibly and be respectful of Nature."
Wes Payne: Nocturnal Surveys on The Humber Estuary
Artificial light in heavily industrialised estuaries could be helping wading birds according to Wes Payne.
"They are better able to detect not just food but also approaching predators," he declared.
Wes, a final-year PhD student at Hull University, provided fascinating insights (and photographs) on night ornithology and the equipment he uses - some of it customarily targeted at the ghost-hunting market.
For instance, he likes to carry firstly a £799 Sony video camera with an £185 infrared illuminator and secondly a £1,5000 Pulsar Axion xm 305 thermal camera.
Night-videoing tends to be of notably low quality in moist conditions but identification of species is generally good.
Meanwhile, because it detects heat, thermal equipment is excellent for detecting creatures that are hidden or camouflaged, but species-identification is tricky (except with long-billed birds such curlews and oystercatchers.
It is hoped that, after he has completed his studies in October, Wes' thesis will be published on the Hull University website.
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Lucas Mander: Curlew Movements on The Humber
The life of over-wintering estuary curlews was the subject of Dr Lucas Mander - a long-time student of this iconic species.
From locations such as Kilnsea, near Spurn, and the Welwick pools and saltmarsh, he has amassed a wealth of data about the feeding activities and habitat - on mud or grass - of these birds which tend to be faithful to specific sites.
Cannon-nets, colour rings and geolocators are all part of the tools of his trade as a researcher.
"Because they live to ages of between 10 and 20, they give us plenty of opportunity to provide great data,"he commented.
Questioned by a conference delegate, he noted that the curlews seen on or near the Humber are not UK breeders but fly here from their nesting territories in Scandinavia - chiefly Finland or Sweden - and North-east Russia.
Lucy Mitchell: Tracking Our Flying Visitors
The conference was concluded by Dr Lucy Mitchell who emphasised the often-overlooked importance of small birds and bats as "pest regulators and pollinators".
An expert on migrants, and an attendee at conventions on migratory species, she is now at the forefront of UK initiatives to introduce the relatively new Canada-developed Motus tracking technology.
It is now at a pioneering stage in no fewer than 31 countries, with transmitter stations at Spurn and in East Anglia and the South-east.
She cited an example of a wheatear that was first detected on Heligoland, then "bumbling about" in Germany before flying to Suffolk.
Other records were of a starling that flew down the Dutch coast before crossing to the UK and of a robin that flew from Denmark to Kent.
In time, it is hoped that Motus will provide precision data about the migration routes of rarer species such as yellow-browed warblers and two of Lucy's favourites, nightjar and turtle dove.
Long-term, it is hoped that the technology might be attached to the towers of wind turbines, both onshore and offshore, to track how bats and birds, such as migrating redwings and waxwings, interact with them.
"Motus is an exciting development," enthused Lucy. "It is a great way to engage people with the many fascinating facets of migration."
Reports by Jim Wright
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| Curlews that over-winter on the Humber mostly breed in Scandinavia |
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| Hide closed due to vandalism - an all-too-regular occurrence at Far Ings |
Above and below: Wes Payne's night-captured images of a fox on the estuary wall footpath at Pyewipe, Grimsby, and two owls - a tawny (left) and short-eared perusing the saltmarsh for prey (possibly including small waders)
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| Wheatear - travels tracked by Motus |
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