Killingholme Haven Pits

This is dedicated to “Daddy” who sadly slipped away from us in the evening of November 27th. He will be sorely missed by his loving wife of over fifty years, myself and my sister and of course his two grandsons. He was the most loving father you could wish for and life will never be the same for any of us now, but we treasure all of the time we spent together and especially when we could all be together at the family home for a few days that one last time.

You will now realise that we were not on a birding holiday in the UK after twenty two years, but visiting my parents. It was emphasised to both ourselves and my sister and family that we were to do some things for ourselves during our visit and my parents enjoyed hearing about the birding that we did on day trips from their home and a few a bit further afield. When they purchased the family home in East Halton in 1973 they would have had no idea that the birding in the area would change so much in their life time or that they would be living there in retirement after working all over the world. My Dad worked at Killingholme Haven on the preliminary works for the new power station when we first moved to the area. One of the bridges that he was in charge of still stands, but the power station is now being dismantled! Grant and I lived in the family home in 1988 and 1989 when we were working and travelling in Europe whilst they lived in Kuwait, so we are familiar with the area from those days. It really has not changed a great deal other than the birding! My parents always enjoyed walks together down the lanes and across the fields in the area and there are many Public Rights of Way including the Nev Cole Way. My Mum will continue to enjoy the countryside and she has always been interested in the birds and wildlife that she sees. She is also very good at finding out on the internet what birds are being observed around the area!

Our first day at my parents’ house was mostly about spending time together as a family, but in the afternoon we walked down the lane and across the fields with my Mum while Dad slept. Eurasian Curlew were easily observed feeding in the turned fields and numerous small passerines that we had not seen for many years. It didn’t take too long for us to join Haven Road right near Killingholme Haven Pits and Mum returned to be with Dad when he awoke. We walked into the bird hide and could not believe the size of the flock of Black-tailed Godwits roosting right next to the hide on September 29th. In fact during the time we sat more and more Black-tailed Godwits poured in from the River Humber and there was an estimated flock size close to seven thousand birds.

A portion of the large flock of Black-tailed Godwits

There was one Common Redshank that was ridiculously close to the bird hide and keen to be photographed. The bird hide has been there for many years and we rarely saw anybody using it during our visit.

Common Redshank

The Black-tailed Godwits were also rather obliging and wandered close to the hide feeding and sank their heads right into the mud.

Black-tailed Godwit close to the bird hide

As time went by many of the Black-tailed Godwits would just tuck their bills under and sit out the time while they could no longer feed in the River Humber estuary.

Roosting Black-tailed Godwits from the hide

We soon realised that there were several Black-tailed Godwits wearing colour bands. This is always problematic anywhere in the world, because you need to have both of their tibia’s visible! We were able to get some of the complete combinations and have obtained the relevant banding history from the banding authorities. The first date is the banding date and location for each individual Black-tailed Godwit.

Black-tailed Godwit white/lime-yellow/white

WL-YW

Black-tailed Godwit white/orange/yellow-yellow/red/yellow

Black-tailed Godwit green/orange/yellow-green/yellow/green

Black-tailed Godwit yellow/orange-lime/green

The above Black-tailed Godwit is from a French colour banding scheme and the information of when it was banded and has since been observed is as follows:-

YO/LG 26/10/2001 Le Duer SARZEAU 56 France 47°32’30N 2°44’14W

YO/LG 29/10/2001 Le Duer SARZEAU 56 France 47°32’30N 2°44’14W

YO/LG 30/10/2001 Le Duer SARZEAU 56 France 47°32’30N 2°44’14W

YO/LG 02/11/2001 Kergeorget SARZEAU 56 France 47°32’27”N 02°45’21”W

YO/LG 18/11/2001 Le Ruault SARZEAU 56 France 47°32’53”N 02°46’50”W

YO/LG 24/11/2001 Le Duer SARZEAU 56 France 47°32’30N 2°44’14W

YO/LG 24/11/2001 Bénance SARZEAU 56 France 47°32’33”N 02°46’18”W

YO/LG 16/12/2001 Grand Traict LE-CROISIC 44 France 47°17’52″N 02°29’46″W

YO/LG 28/07/2002 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 07/08/2002 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 11/08/2002 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 20/08/2002 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 26/08/2002 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 15/09/2002 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 21/09/2002 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 21/09/2002 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 11/10/2002 Bénance SARZEAU 56 France 47°32’33”N 02°46’18”W

YO/LG 15/10/2002 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 20/10/2002 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 25/10/2002 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 15/11/2002 Bénance SARZEAU 56 France 47°32’33”N 02°46’18”W

YO/LG 21/11/2002 Bénance SARZEAU 56 France 47°32’33”N 02°46’18”W

YO/LG 02/12/2002 Kergeorget SARZEAU 56 France 47°32’27”N 02°45’21”W

YO/LG 04/12/2002 Kergeorget SARZEAU 56 France 47°32’27”N 02°45’21”W

YO/LG 30/07/2003 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 31/07/2003 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 02/08/2003 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 02/08/2003 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 05/08/2003 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 23/08/2003 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 23/08/2003 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 04/09/2003 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 24/09/2003 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 26/10/2003 Le Ruault SARZEAU 56 France 47°32’53”N 02°46’50”W

YO/LG 27/10/2003 Fournevay SARZEAU 56 France 47°32’35”N 02°48’04”W

YO/LG 31/10/2003 Fournevay SARZEAU 56 France 47°32’35”N 02°48’04”W

YO/LG 27/11/2003 Petit Traict GUERANDE 44 France 47°18’38″N 02°29’07″W

YO/LG 07/01/2004 Grand Traict LE-CROISIC 44 France 47°17’52″N 02°29’46″W

YO/LG 16/07/2004 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 02/08/2004 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 04/08/2004 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 25/08/2004 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 14/12/2004 Fournevay SARZEAU 56 France 47°32’35”N 02°48’04”W

YO/LG 03/01/2005 Le Duer SARZEAU 56 France 47°32’30N 2°44’14W

YO/LG 31/03/2005 Pijnacker ROTTERDAM Zuid-Holland The Netherlands 52°00’N 04°27’E

YO/LG 09/04/2005 Cley Nature Reserve CLEY Norfolk England 52°57’N 01°4’E

YO/LG 06/12/2005 Gros Banc LE-CROISIC 44 France 47°17’55″N 02°30’08″W

YO/LG 23/01/2006 Pen Bron TURBALLE (LA) 44 France 47°18’36″N 02°30’00″W

YO/LG 28/07/2006 Netherfield Lagoons NOTTINGHAM Nottinghamshire England 52°58’N 01°03’W

YO/LG 01/08/2006 Humber Estuary GOOLE East Yorkshire England 53°41’N 00°42’w

YO/LG 01/08/2006 Humber Estuary GOOLE East Yorkshire England 53°41’N 00°42’w

YO/LG 07/11/2006 Gros Banc LE-CROISIC 44 France 47°17’55″N 02°30’08″W

YO/LG 06/01/2007 Bénance SARZEAU 56 France 47°32’33”N 02°46’18”W

YO/LG 06/01/2007 Kergeorget SARZEAU 56 France 47°32’27”N 02°45’21”W

YO/LG 10/08/2007 Humber estuary NORTH-KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 04/09/2007 Humber estuary NORTH-KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 06/09/2007 Humber estuary NORTH-KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 08/09/2007 Humber estuary NORTH-KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 17/09/2007 Humber estuary NORTH-KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 24/09/2007 Humber estuary NORTH-KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 27/10/2007 Kergeorget SARZEAU 56 France 47°32’27”N 02°45’21”W

YO/LG 10/11/2007 Banc de Strado MUZILLAC 56 France 47°30’14″N 02°27’23″W

YO/LG 10/09/2008 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 06/10/2008 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 05/11/2008 Bénance SARZEAU 56 France 47°32’33”N 02°46’18”W

YO/LG 16/11/2008 Bénance SARZEAU 56 France 47°32’33”N 02°46’18”W

YO/LG 27/01/2009 Gros Banc LE-CROISIC 44 France 47°17’55″N 02°30’08″W

YO/LG 23/04/2009 Butt of Lewis lighthouse ISLE-OF-LEWIS Outer Hebrides Scotland 58°17’09″N 06°15’47″W

YO/LG 24/04/2009 Butt of Lewis lighthouse ISLE-OF-LEWIS Outer Hebrides Scotland 58°17’09″N 06°15’47″W

YO/LG 09/10/2009 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 19/10/2009 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 29/08/2010 Humber estuary GRIMSBY Lincolnshire England 53°34’59.59″N 0° 5’36.89″W

YO/LG 29/03/2011 Motney Hill GILLINGHAM Kent England 51 23′ N 0°37’E

YO/LG 16/08/2011 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 31/08/2011 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 09/09/2012 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 29/09/2012 Humber estuary NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53°37’38″N 00°11’17″E

YO/LG 21/02/2013 Vasière de Trévaly TURBALLE (LA) 44 France 47°20’9.18″N 2°29’14.10″W

YO/LG 09/03/2013 De ratte EKE Oost-Vlaanderen Belgium 50°57’29” N 3°39’48” E

YO/LG 14/03/2014 Réserve ONCFS de Chanteloup ILE-D’OLONNE(L’) 85 France 46°33’03″N 1°47’11″W

YO/LG 17/03/2014 Réserve ONCFS de Chanteloup ILE-D’OLONNE(L’) 85 France 46°33’03″N 1°47’11″W

YO/LG 19/03/2014 Réserve ONCFS de Chanteloup ILE-D’OLONNE(L’) 85 France 46°33’03″N 1°47’11″W

YO/LG 19/03/2015 Réserve ONCFS de Chanteloup ILE-D’OLONNE(L’) 85 France 46°33’17″N 1°47’14″W

YO/LG 23/03/2015 Réserve ONCFS de Chanteloup ILE-D’OLONNE(L’) 85 France 46°33’03″N 1°47’11″W

YO/LG 26/03/2015 Réserve ONCFS de Chanteloup ILE-D’OLONNE(L’) 85 France 46°33’03″N 1°47’11″W

YO/LG 30/07/2015 Pall Holme Stray HULL Yorkshire England 53°42’29.68″N 0°13’7.37″W

YO/LG 29/09/2016 North Killingholme Haven Pits NORTH KILLIGHOLME Lincolnshire England 53.661416 -0.236227

We also observed a Black-tailed Godwit wearing lime/red on its left tibia and red/orange engraved with the letter “Z” and that was banded in Iceland as the history shows below.

adult, male

LR-RZ            24.06.13         Austurey, Árnessýsla, S Iceland

LR-RZ            8.09.13           Frampton Marsh, the Wash estuary, Lincolnshire, E England

LR-RZ            24.02.14         Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB, Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire, E England

LR-RZ            14.07.14          Frampton Marsh, the Wash estuary, Lincolnshire, E England

LR-RZ            14.07.14          Frampton Marsh, the Wash estuary, Lincolnshire, E England

LR-RZ            12.10.14          Saint Armel , Morbihan, Brittany, NW France

LR-RZ            20.11.14          Welney, Ouse Washes, Norfolk, E England

LR-RZ            21.11.14           Welney, Ouse Washes, Norfolk, E England

LR-RZ            24.07.15         Breydon Water, Norfolk, E England

LR-RZ            17.08.15          Frampton Marsh, the Wash estuary, Lincolnshire, E England

LR-RZ            17.08.15          Frampton Marsh, the Wash estuary, Lincolnshire, E England

LR-RZ            31.10.15          Breydon Water, Norfolk, E England

LR-RZ            29.09.16         Killingholme, Humber estuary, Lincolnshire, E England

Another Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit was wearing green/orange on its left tibia and red/red on its right tibia and the history is below.

GO-RR           21.07.01          Road 926 to Husey near Nefbjarnarstadir

GO-RR           12.09.01          South Uist, Outer Hebrides, W Scotland

GO-RR           08.11.02          Dee Estuary, Cheshire, NW England

GO-RR           19.01.03          Wexford Slobs, Co. Wexford, S Ireland

GO-RR           07.08.03          Marshside, Ribble estuary, Lancashire, NW England

GO-RR           14.10.03          Dee Estuary, Cheshire, NW England

GO-RR           14.12.03          Dee Estuary, Clywd, N Wales

GO-RR           24.07.06          Killingholme, Humber estuary, Lincolnshire, E England

GO-RR           03.08.06          North Killingholme, Humber, Lincolnshire, E England

GO-RR           12.08.07          Killingholme, Humber estuary, Lincolnshire, E England

GO-RR           27.09.07          Killingholme, Humber estuary, Lincolnshire, E England

GO-RR           09.10.07          Killingholme, Humber estuary, Lincolnshire, E England

GO-RR           01.05.08          Álftafjörður, E Iceland

GO-RR           02.05.08          Álftafjörður, E Iceland

GO-RR           02.05.08          Álftafjörður, E Iceland

GO-RR           21.10.08          Killingholme, Humber estuary, Lincolnshire, E England

GO-RR           05.10.10          Killingholme, Humber estuary, Lincolnshire, E England

GO-RR           12.10.12          Killingholme, Humber estuary, Lincolnshire, E England

GO-RR           31.07.13          Killingholme, Haven Pits, Humber estuary, Lincolnshire, E England

GO-RR           21.11.13          Thurstaston Shore, Dee estuary, Cheshire, NW England

GO-RR           29.04.14          Álftafjörður, S-Múlasýsla, E Iceland

GO-RR           30.04.14          Álftafjörður, S-Múlasýsla, E Iceland

GO-RR           30.04.14          Álftafjörður, S-Múlasýsla, E Iceland

GO-RR           22.10.14          Pyewipe, Humber estuary, Lincolnshire, E England

GO-RR           7.10.15            Killingholme, Humber estuary, Lincolnshire, E England

GO-RR           21.08.16          Snettisham Pits, The Wash Estuary, Norfolk, E England

GO-RR           23.08.16          Snettisham, The Wash Estuary, Norfolk, E England

GO-RR           29.09.16          Killingholme, Humber estuary, Lincolnshire, E England

One other Black-tailed Godwit was wearing on its left tibia a red colour band and black flag and then on its right tibia an orange colour band and a red colour band. Although it had a short history it was the only time that it had been observed since banding and had crossed the River Humber!

31.10.2015 Welwick Saltmarsh, north bank, Humber Estuary, East England

29.09.2016 North Killingholme Haven Pits, north Lincolnshire, East England

The Killingholme Haven Pits also offer a roost for Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe, Little Egret and Greylag Geese, Grey Heron and many more birds. When the shorebirds are not roosting at Killingholme Haven Pits you can walk out onto the sea wall and wander along the river bank . It is an excellent surface to walk on, because it does not get muddy! There are blackberries to enjoy in September and October and numerous other birds can be observed as you wander along. We observed Ruddy Turnstones, which our youngest nephew affectionately called “Turnovers”, Dunlin, Eurasian Curlew, Common Redshank, Northern Lapwings, Common Shelducks, Long-tailed Tits, Eurasian Wrens, European Goldfinch, Greater Black-backed Gulls and Eurasian Teal to name just a few. It can be bitterly cold when the wind is blowing as we discovered over the various visits during our stay! The header photo shows the view from the sea wall looking out towards the North Sea from the south bank of the River Humber.

Sea wall and south side of the River Humber at Killingholme Haven

Feeding at low tide on the south side of the River Humber

This is an excellent place to go birding and you can read in this article about how it has changed so much over the years. Graham Catley only saw 11 Black-tailed Godwits at this location in 1969 and by 1989 there were more than 50. Nowadays there are more than 7000 during migration, which is quite possibly about 10% of the Icelandic population. Nowadays about 2500 Black-tailed Godwits overwinter in the area. As you can see from the history of the few Black-tailed Godwits that were identifiable they do wander around Europe, but also return to the same locations. It is not dissimilar to what we observe in Australia.

This has been the hardest week of my life, but my Dad would be proud that I have been able to put into words what a magnificent place this is and I obviously inherited his ability to write! This is my 327th post for 10000birds! Although I am grieving I would like you all to just turn to your loved ones and tell them you love them like I did over those last few weeks and give them a big hug.