Natural England warns of 'incineration' risk to wildfowl and waders if flare stacks are installed in Humber Estuary

Natural England fears that the Humber's wetland birds, such as these godwit, could be imperilled by proposed new 'green energy terminal'  

NATURAL England has sounded a note of alarm on a proposed new construction project in the Humber Estuary.

Ports giant ABP is keen to build and operate a 'liquid bulk green energy terminal' at Immingham.

This would import ammonia - probably from Saudia Arabia - which would then be processed to create hydrogen energy for various industrial uses, notably as a fuel for shipping, buses and other heavy vehicles.

But what particularly worries Natural England is the project may involve the installation  of flare stacks  (of the sort seen at offshore oil and gas rigs).

In a report, the wildlife watchdog states: "There is evidence that birds can be affected by such structures, sometimes with extreme consequences when large numbers are drawn to the flame and get incinerated." 

ABP's application does not state the number of flare stacks proposed, nor the likely dimensions of any flames.

                                              

For reasons unknown, birds - especially those on migration - can, very occasionally,  be fatally attracted to flares 

Natural England has other concerns about the scheme - for instance, the introduction of additional lighting into the estuary.

The report continues: "There is evidence to suggest that there can be benefits of lighting during hours of darkness for wintering wading birds in increasing the amount of foraging time available.

"However, it is a complex situation, and it is not yet known how artificial lighting during hours of darkness might affect the survival of wintering waders.

"Further assessment is necessary."

Natural England is also worried about disturbance and displacement of birds such as knot, dunlin, turnstone, curlew, redshank and particularly, given the the Humber is at the northern edge of the species' range, black-tailed godwit.

This is likely to be most evident during construction of the jetty when piling is required.

It says: "The loss of habitat may be considered small, but it will  still represent an appreciable  effect on the habitat. 

"A flight response is considered the most extreme 'disturbance event'. 

"Even before birds are driven to fly away, 'disturbance events' may still increase the stress response in a bird, for example by reducing the amount of time spent foraging or roosting or increasing the time spent scanning for threats."

Although ABP's ecologists say the birds will simply relocate to other parts of  the Humber, NE is unconvinced.

It states: "This assumption should not be relied upon, due to development pressures in these areas, and potential limitations for relocation within the surrounding area."

The full list of Humber-dwelling birds whose welfare Natural England is keen to safeguard is as follows:

• Avocet

• Bar-tailed godwit

• Black-tailed godwit

• Brent goose

• Curlew

• Dunlin

• Golden plover

• Goldeneye

• Greenshank

• Grey plover

• Knot

• Lapwing

• Mallard

• Oystercatcher

• Pochard

• Redshank

• Ringed plover

• Ruff

• Sanderling

However, it notes that there could also be an  impact on the following additional species that are thought occur on adjacent 'supporting habitat', also known as 'functionally linked land '(FLL).

• Scaup

• Shelduck

• Teal

• Turnstone

• Whimbrel

• Wigeon

• Green sandpiper

• Greylag goose

• Little egret

• Pink-footed goose

• Shoveler

• Crane

In its advice to ABP and to the Planning Inspectorate, which will determine the liquid bulk terminal application, Natural England further states  that consideration also needs to be given to potential impacts on the following species:  

• Hen harrier

• Marsh harrier

• Little tern

• Bittern

ABP's ecological consultants will seek to address the concerns at hearings to be held later this month.

* Industrial giants set to thrash out differences over project - see  Grimsby News

                                          

ABP's plan of the proposed terminal near Immingham

The Wryneck says: While such rigorous scrutiny is to be applauded, we think Natural England's concerns are overstated. Even on migration routes in the North Sea, the evidence of birds being incinerated by gas burn-off flare is scant. Meanwhile, NE has itself acknowledged that additional lighting can increase foraging and feeding time for birds. And if the majority of the construction, especially the piling, can be restricted to summer when most of the wetland birds are absent, any disturbance will be greatly minimised. It may be, too, that the development will end up being beneficial to birds in ways as yet unknown. We can never second-guess Mother Nature - she works in mysterious ways.