SOLWAY FIRTH Cumbria, Dumfries & Galloway Internationally important: Whooper Swan, Pink-footed Goose, Barnacle Goose, Shelduck, Pintail, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Knot, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank Nationally important: Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Scaup, Common Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Sanderling Site description aggregated offshore between Carsethorn and The Solway Firth, as considered by WeBS, Southerness, with lesser numbers off Powfoot. comprises the coastline between Mersehead Goldeneye were scattered along the channels Sands on the Scottish coast to Workington in of the River Nith and Esk, with their numbers Cumbria, but only the northern side of the firth gradually increasing during the course of the was counted during 2001/02. The principal winter. Small numbers of both Red-breasted inputs to the estuary are from the rivers Esk, Merganser and Goosander were widely Eden, Nith and Annan. The majority of the scattered along the channels. substrate is sandy in character and there are Oystercatchers were ubiquitous in their several isolated rocky scars, principally at the distribution, with over 27,000 recorded in mouth of Moricambe Bay. The estuary is December, followed by a sharp decline in dynamic in nature, with mobile subtidal sand January. The majority of Ringed Plover were banks and intertidal sand flats. Large areas of found in the outer part of the estuary, whilst saltmarsh are found along the south side of Grey Plover frequented the mudflats off Moricambe, between Glasson and Burgh and Caerlaverock. Golden Plover peaked in along the Caerlaverock shoreline. However, November, when 1,752 were present, Rockcliffe Marsh, the most extensive of the concentrated between Powfoot and Torduff saltmarshes, was not covered by the survey. Point and off Overton, with lesser numbers Most of the estuary is surrounded by low-lying adjacent to Southerness Point. Lapwing farmland and there is little industry in the area. distribution was similar to that of Golden The main issues concerning waterbird Plover, although Southerness was avoided. conservation on the Solway concern January was the only month in which exploitation of natural resources, such as the appreciable numbers of Lapwing were presence of shellfisheries (Davidson 1996a, C recorded, when they were concentrated to the Hartley pers comm) south of Carsethorn. Substantially fewer Knot were present than in previous years, although it Bird distribution 2001/02 is possible that the majority of the ‘missing’ birds were on mudflats along the southern side Great Crested Grebe and Cormorant counts of the Solway, which was not counted. peaked in the first half of the winter, with Numbers of Purple Sandpiper and Turnstone subsequent rapid declines by February. were lower than the previous winter and, as in Barnacle Geese peaked at 4,872 birds in previous years, Southerness was the most January when the majority were found around important area. The peak count of Dunlin was Glencaple and Caerlaverock. Shelduck were similar to that of winter 2000/01, and birds were widely distributed between Overton and generally distributed throughout, with the Torduff Point. Wigeon and Teal were densest concentrations off Caerlaverock. Bar- concentrated along the River Nith creek from tailed Godwit were virtually absent after Glencaple northwards, although both species November, with the bulk of the birds were also found scattered along the northern frequenting parts of the estuary not covered coastline between Powfoot and Gretna. Mallard during winter 2001/02. Curlew and Redshank were widely distributed, with the greatest both exceeded the threshold of international concentrations off Craigneuk Point in the west importance, with the greatest numbers and Powfoot in the east. Pintail were between the mouth of the River Annan and concentrated in discrete areas, namely along Torduff Point, and also around the River Nith. the River Nith off Overton, around the channel Black-headed Gull was the most abundant off Torduff Point and around Powfoot. More of the four species of gull recorded, with than 1,700 Pintail were noted in November, Herring Gull the next most abundant. Small which represented the maximum count. numbers of Common and Lesser Black-backed Nationally important numbers of Scaup mainly Gulls were also present. 240 Low Tide Counts Figure 88. WeBS Low Tide Count distributions of Pintail and Dunlin at Solway Firth, winter 2001/02. (Ca=Caerlaverock, Car=Carsethorn, CP=Craigneuk Point, Gl=Glencaple, Gr=Gretna, Ov=Overton, Po=Powfoot, SP=Seafield Point, TP=Torduff Point) Low Tide Counts 241 SWALE ESTUARY Kent Internationally important: Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank Nationally important: Little Grebe, European White-fronted Goose, Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Shelduck, Teal, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Knot, Dunlin Site description February. Low numbers of Red-breasted The Swale Estuary separates the Isle of Sheppey Merganser were widely scattered. from the Kent mainland and adjoins the Oystercatcher frequented the coastal Medway Estuary to the west. At low tide there stretches of the Swale between Warden Point are extensive inter-tidal flats, with a relatively and Shell Ness on the northern side and on the narrow water channel. The inner zones are flats off Seasalter on the southern side. Counts muddy and the sediments become increasingly fluctuated from a peak of over 6,000 in sandy towards the mouth. Most of the site is December (higher than recent Core Counts) to surrounded by saltmarsh, with the most 350 recorded in January. The peak count of 118 substantial expanses along the northern shore. Avocet in December reflected the recent decline There is a sand and shingle spit at Shell Ness, of this species on the Swale, occurring mainly behind which is a mixture of saltmarsh grading off Spitend, Elmley Island. Ringed Plover were into grassland. Industrial activity is limited and generally located in the inner zones and on the includes port and harbour facilities, a paper mill outer coastal flats, whilst Golden Plover were at Kemsley and boat building facilities at Conyer widely distributed within the estuary, particularly Creek. Most leisure activities are centred on along the southern shoreline and off Seasalter. sailing and other water sports and there are The greatest numbers of Grey Plover and three marinas within the estuary. Much of the Lapwing were found off Harty Ferry in the north area is subject to active wildfowling (Buck 1997, and on the flats off Nagden Marshes on the Musgrove et al 2003). southern side of the channel. Virtually no Lapwing occurred outside the estuary, whilst Bird distribution 2001/02 Grey Plover also used the coastal flats. The distribution of Knot was also mainly coastal, Little Grebe peaked at 64 birds in January and although there was an additional group off were mostly concentrated in the main channel Elmley Marshes. Sporadically occurring off Kemsley within the inner zone, with a few Sanderling were generally confined to the towards Kingsferry Bridge. Most Great Crested mudflats at Shell Ness. Dunlin peaked at over Grebe were found on the sea off Leysdown. The 9,000 individuals in December, the greatest maximum count of 311 birds in February was concentrations recorded in the inner half and on much higher than usual and breached the the flats off Seasalter. Snipe were scattered threshold of national importance on this within the estuary, although the majority were occasion. Up to 19 Little Egret were scattered recorded from the inner sections. Most Black- throughout the saltmarsh and creeks. From tailed Godwit also occurred in the inner half of December onwards, counts of Dark-bellied the Swale, particularly off Elmley Island, Brent Geese increased reaching a maximum in whereas the majority of the Bar-tailed Godwit February. They were mainly recorded on the utilised the coastal flats around Leysdown and flats between Warden Point and Shell Ness and Seasalter. Curlew were found throughout the off the Isle of Harty - different to the previous area and their numbers fluctuated, with the pattern recorded during 1992/93, when virtually highest count made in February. The all of the birds occurred within the estuary itself. distribution of Redshank was similar to that of Shelduck were widely distributed throughout. Curlew, although greater concentrations Wigeon and Teal occurrence was similar, with occurred within the creeks. The peak count of concentrations south of the Isle of Harty, and off 1,777 Redshank was higher than recent Core Conyer Creek and Elmley Marshes. Pintail and Counts. Most Turnstone were found on the Shoveler were mostly located off Elmley Island coastal mudflats, with small numbers also at the inner end of the Swale. Pochard and present off Elmley Island. Goldeneye were confined to the main channel Of the five species of gull present, Black- at the confluence of Milton Creek, with the headed were the most abundant, followed by largest count of the former recorded in Herring and Common Gulls. 242 Low Tide Counts Figure 89. WeBS Low Tide Count distributions of Dark-bellied Brent Goose and Dunlin at the Swale Estuary, winter 2001/02. (CC=Conyer Creek, EI&M=Elmley Island & Marshes, IoH=Isle of Harty, KB=Kingsferry Bridge, Ke=Kemsley, Le=Leysdown, MC=Milton Creek, NM=Nagden Marshes, SN=Shell Ness, Sp=Spitend, WP=Warden Point)) Low Tide Counts 243 WIGTOWN BAY Dumfries & Galloway Internationally important: Pink-footed Goose Nationally important: Whooper Swan Site description Although Oystercatcher were widely Wigtown Bay is the estuary of the River Cree distributed, the Baldoon Flats off Orchardton in and is one of the largest estuaries in south-west the south western quarter, Kirkbride Bank on Scotland. The River Bladnoch along with the eastern shore and along the northern part of Palnure and Moneypool Burns also flow into the the River Cree held the greatest concentrations. Bay. At low tide, the site is composed of The highest numbers were recorded in January, extensive intertidal flats of mud and sand, rich in when just over 1,700 individuals were present.