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Alkborough Flats - A big flood on the Humber, and it’s good news for wildlife.

Before the flood
Alkborough Flats is not a name associated with wildlife, yet. However in Autumn 2006, the flood bank of the Humber estuary was breached and 450 hectares of farmland were flooded. It is all part a huge scheme that will restore some of the Humber estuaries natural flood control basins, while simultaneously creating a haven for wildlife.

It was hoped that birds such as Dunlin, Bar-tailed godwit, Avocet, Lapwings, Redshank, Kingfishers, Barn owls and Marsh harrier would make Alkborough their home, with wilder thoughts turning to bitterns, storks and even ospreys.

There is a small team at the site to oversee the development of new habitats such as salt marsh, wet and dry grassland, reedbeds, mudflats and saline and freshwater lagoons. They also deal with community work/involvement, volunteer recruitment, footpath installation, and monitoring of the flora and fauna.

2008 wildlife update.

New bird hides

There are three hides erected on site with two more to go in once the reedbed has been constructed. Interpretation boards give a insight into the purpose of the site, it's wildlife and habitats

How to get to Alkborough.

After the deluge 

October 2008.

Habitat works have been the main feature of works this year.
Grassland: Grass sown last autumn has established well with the help of the tenants livestock and cutting. With the shorter grass this has created ideal habitat for breeding waders and we hopefully see the benefits in 2009.

Wet Grassland: The construction of the wet grassland has been completed and is now waiting for the grass to be sown, in spring, and established before water is allowed to fill the furrows (autumn 2009). This will create a fantastic wetland area for breeding waders and wintering wildfowl.

Reedbed: The reedbed at the southern end of the site has now started being constructed. This has been a long term aim of the project which is finally coming into fluision. It is hoped in time this will expand the local breeding range and habitats for many reedbed species including the Bittern and Bearded Tit.

For a full monthly summary of the birds and other wildlife on site visit http://www.alkboroughandwalcot.co.uk/

Cafe
The Paddock Tearoom's has now opened in Alkborough village, near Julian's Bower. They are open Thursday to Sunday 9am - 5pm serving a range of tea, coffee, cakes and hot and cold meals.

2008 wildlife update It's been a fantastic year for birds with a whole raft of rarities, a decline in some species as the habitats change and an increase in others. Rarities this year have included Buff Breasted Sandpiper, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope and Richard's Pipit. Other more unsual visitors to the site include Lapland Buntings, Green-wing Teal, Hawfinch, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Spotted Redshank, Wood Sandpiper and Temmick Stint. The year started off magnificently with flocks of over 10,000 Lapwing and 7,000 Golden Plover amongst a variety of over waders including good numbers of Black-tailed Godwit. Ducks have been in abundance with Shelduck being a staple for any birding trip with a peak count of 728. Breeding numbers have been varied with Avocet increasing from last year, little ringed plover also increasing. We are still waiting to see the effects of the new grassland habitats on the numbers of breeding lapwing and redshank. Large numbers of hirindines and swift where seen during the summer months feasting on the insects above the wetter areas on site. Finally this year has been fantastic for raptors with 10 species recorded in September alone. Both peregrine and marsh harrier were regular visitors but it was the osprey and honey buzzard which were the highlights migrating through on their long journey south.

September 2007 update The main attraction for bird watchers this summer where the five Spoonbills which stayed for eight weeks over the summer before moving down to Norfolk (one was colour ringed in the Netherlands). All 5 birds roosted in a stand of dead trees at the bottom of the escarpment along with Little Egrets (up to 9) and Grey Herons (max. count of 26). Duck number increased in the late summer with peak counts of 10 wigeon, 47 Gadwall, 950 Teal, 19 Pintail, 140 Shoveller and 2 Garganey. These numbers are likely to increase as autumn and winter draw in, so look out you never know what might be hiding! The site has also attracted large numbers of Snipe with a peak of 68 at the beginning of September but also good numbers of Black-tailed Godwits (195), Ruff (50) and the odd scarcer bird with 3 Curlew Sandpiper and 2 Little Stint being recorded. The site itself is currently undergoing a number of changes. This includes several sections of dead hedgerow and trees being removed to aid the development of the inter-tidal mudflats and saltmarsh, large areas are being put down to grass for grazing and the creation of wet and dry grassland.

April 2007. Since the breach was created approximately 170ha of the site floods at each high tide and the site changes dramatically depending on a huge variety of factors, primarily the tide. This first year will see many changes in both habitat and the wildlife it attracts. One of the first birds spotted on site after it was flooded was a Buff Breasted Sandpiper which caused quite a stir with the local birdwatchers, hopefully a sign of what’s to come!

Wildlife at Alkborough
In the last week of March there was a group of 39 Avocet feeding in the shallow lagoons. Black tailed Godwits have been a regular occurrence and snipe and Jack snipe have both been seen. Large numbers of Lapwing, Curlew and Golden plover have been at the site during February and March with maximum counts of c2000, 200+, c5000 respectively. Other species of wader have been noted including ringed plover, dunlin, redshank and grey plover. Numerous duck species have been using the site including Wigeon, Shoveller, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard and Shelduck with a maximum count of 200 noted on 28th March. No bitterns, storks or ospreys yet.

Roe deer and hares have been seen regularly on site and one brimstone butterfly was noted in March.

 Location: Alkborough lies on the Humber estuary about 8 miles west of Barton-on-Humber and north of Scunthorpe. Take the A1077 from either.

Grid reference: SE882216

Access to the site
There are now three entrances to the site; the footpath from Whitton, behind Alkborough church and down the hill, and finally a permissive path down from Julian's Bower. A whole network of new footpaths have been opened covering 8.2km of the site. Areas inaccessable to the public still exist in order to create undisturbed areas for breeding and feeding birds. Surfaced footpaths (2.8km) also enable people with disabilities to access much of the site, primarily the bird hides, although work still needs to be done to complete access including a car park. 

Humber Code of Conduct
Click here to see the Humber code of conduct, full of useful information and contacts for anyone visiting the Humber Estuary.

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