 |
| With their long bills, godwits are well equipped to probe the mud for tasty lugworms |
That is the message from North East Lincolnshire Council which has gradually come to realise that - particularly in late August and September - this part of the UK is one of the best places in Europe for watching waders and terns (also known as sea swallows because of their forked tails).
Particularly in late August and throughout September, these birds often stop off locally to feed and rest.
Says a NELC spokesman: "These long-legged beasties - curlews, godwits, knot, sanderling, ringed plovers and the like - are a sheer delight.
"They are real tourist attraction, and we need to cherish them and ensure they come to no harm.
"Most of the wader species are particularly conspicuous an hour before and after high tide.
"The rich feeding grounds found in Cleethorpes and the Humber Estuary act like a motorway service station by providing a rest stop for the migrating birds.
"Some pass through on their way to other places whereas others stay for the winter."
It is useful to have a pair of 8x40 or 10x50 binoculars to watch them in close up.
Luckily, Cleethorpes has a shop - Comley's - on St Peter's Avenue, Cleethorpes, which specialises in optical accessories across a wide price range.
* Rarity note: A mega-scarce white-winged lapwing has this week been a magnet to twitchers further up the Humber at the RSPB's Blacktoft Sands reserve.
 |
| Terns (also known as sea swallows), foreground, and various wader species on the receding tide near Cleethorpes leisure centre earlier today |
 |
| Perched on the buoy is a common tern - pausing in Cleethorpes en route to West Africa |
 |
| Mute swans are not often seen on the saltmarsh but this one decided to check in for a visit |
No comments:
Post a Comment